Hydrogeologic investigations at the Nevada Test Site
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
- Geological Survey, Las Vegas, NV (United States)
- Raytheon Services Nevada, Inc., Mercury, NV (United States)
The Nevada Test Site was established in 1950 as a continental area for testing nuclear devices and, since 1963, all nuclear detonations there have been underground. Most tests are conducted in vertical shafts with a small percentage conducted in tunnels. The majority of detonation points are above the water table, primarily in volcanic rocks or alluvium. In the testing areas the water table is 450--700 m below the surface. Pre- and post- event geologic investigations are conducted for each test location and long-term studies assess the impact of underground testing on a more regional scale. Studies in progress have not identified any impact on the regional ground water system from testing, but some local effects have been recognized. In some areas where several large tests have been conducted below the water table, water levels hundreds of meters above the regional water table have been measured and radioactivity has been discovered associated with fractures in a few holes. Flow-through and straddle packer testing has revealed unexpectedly high hydraulic pressures at depth. Recently, a multiple completion monitoring well installed to study three zones has confirmed the existence of a significant upward hydraulic gradient. These observations of local pressurization and fracture flow are being further explored to determine the influence of underground nuclear testing on the regional hydrogeologic system.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 10112016
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-92-3414; CONF-930585-1; ON: DE93003724
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 2. USA/CIS joint conference on environmental hydrology and hydrogeology,Washington, DC (United States),16-29 May 1993; Other Information: PBD: [1992]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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