Mineralogical correlation of surficial sediment from area drainages with selected sedimentary interbeds at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Idaho

Technical Report · Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6197433· OSTI ID:6197433

Bartholomay, R C

Ongoing research by the US Geological Survey at the INEL involves investigation of the migration of radioactive elements contained in low-level radioactive waste, hydrologic and geologic factors affecting waste movement, and geochemical factors that influence the chemical composition of the waste. Identification of the mineralogy of the Snake River Plain is needed to aid in the study of the hydrology and geochemistry of subsurface waste disposal. The US Geological Surveys project office at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, in cooperation with the US Department of Energy, used mineralogical data to correlate surficial sediment samples from the Big Lost River, Little Lost River, and Birch Greek drainages with selected sedimentary interbed core samples taken from test holes at the RWMC (Radioactive Waste Management Complex), TRA (Test Reactors Area), ICPP (Idaho Chemical Processing Plant), and TAN (Test Area North). Correlating the mineralogy of a particular present-day drainage area with a particular sedimentary interbed provides information on historical source of sediment for interbeds in and near the INEL. Mineralogical data indicate that surficial sediment samples from the Big Lost River drainage contained a larger amount of feldspar and pyroxene and a smaller amount of calcite and dolomite than samples from the Little Lost River and Birch Creek drainages. Mineralogical data from sedimentary interbeds at the RWMC, TRA, and ICPP correlate with surficial sediment of the present-day big Lost River drainage. Mineralogical data from a sedimentary interbed at TAN correlate with surficial sediment of the present-day Birch Creek drainage. 13 refs., 5 figs., 3 tabs.

• Research Organization: Geological Survey, Idaho Falls, ID (USA). Water Resources Div.
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/NE; DOI
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-76ID01570
• OSTI ID: 6197433
• Report Number(s): DOE/ID-22092; USGS-WRI-90-4147; ON: DE91006140; TRN: 91-004457
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
SNAKE RIVER PLAIN
MINERALOGY
DRAINAGE
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOLOGY
HYDROLOGY
IDAHO NATIONAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
SEDIMENTS
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
US GS
CHEMISTRY
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
US DOE
US DOI
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage