Study of chemical reactions in the nuclear underground explosion. Incidence on radioactivity

Conference · Sat Oct 31 00:00:00 EST 1970

OSTI ID:4106802

Picq, Jean Maurice

In order to find out and state the theoretical or semi-empirical laws governing the reaction of radioactivity in contained nuclear explosion, we are studying the chemical reactions during the different stages of the cavity and chimney formation, as well as thermal transfers. At the same time, we are carrying an experimental study on melted rock and gas samples taken from the French underground explosions. The results of which can be found in this paper are derived from our present experiments at the plant (have been obtained from partial studies). During the French underground explosions, we took gaseous samples. The gas analysis, without taking water vapour into consideration, showed that those samples were composed of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide with small quantities of hydrocarbons (chiefly methane - about one per cent). The total amount of gas being quite large and proportional to the burst power, we came to the conclusion that those gases were produced by rock reactions (that rock was granite). We considered the following reagents because they were found in sufficient quantities to alter the balance between the different components: ferrous ions contained in mica, biotite, carbon dioxide from carbonates and water, either free or in a component state, contained in the rock. A comparison between theoretical and experimental results led us to notice among other things: the temperature of rock re-solidification; pressure nearing lithostatic pressure. Since the components of the environment, water not included, is quite homogeneous, the gas volume produced by '1 kiloton' is quite constant. On the other hand, the relative proportion of the gases undergoes a few changes, particularly the ratio CO/CO{sub 2} which normally depends on the quantity of water contained in the environment. This statement is verified by the calculation of thermodynamic equilibriums. In order to calculate the simultaneous chemical equilibrium we have first selected five reactions. We noticed: some parts of the melted rock included no radioactivity; in the radioactive parts, {alpha} activity was quite homogeneous, while {beta} - {gamma} was not; The strongest - {gamma} activity parts corresponded to the parts of the melted rock scattered with bubbles. From the fact that the bubble lining is more radioactive than the melted product rock, we suppose that the elements concentrated in bubble linings are isotopes with gaseous antecedents having periods compatible with their inclusion as bubbles in the melted rocks, and we hope to obtain more concrete results soon.

• Research Organization: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique, Bruyers-le-Chatel (France). Centre d'Etudes
• NSA Number: NSA-24-041507
• OSTI ID: 4106802
• Report Number(s): CONF-700101-(Vol.1)
• Resource Relation: Conference: Symposium on engineering with nuclear explosives, Las Vegas, NV (United States), 14-16 Jan 1970; Other Information: From Symposium on engineering with nuclear explosives, Las Vegas, Nevada, January 14--16, 1970. Proceedings. UNCL. Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-70; Related Information: In: Symposium on engineering with nuclear explosives. Proceedings. Vol. 1, 871 pages.
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

N24120* -Engineering-Nuclear Explosions-Industrial Uses
N22100 -Environmental & Earth Sciences-Geology & Hydrology
N20200 -Chemistry-Inorganic
Organic
& Physical Chemistry
BUBBLES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
GRANITES
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
PRESSURE
RADIOACTIVITY
ROCKS
TEMPERATURE
TESTING
TRITIUM
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
UNDERGROUND/effects on rocks
study of chemical
RADIOACTIVITY/distribution in rocks surrounding nuclear cavity
ROCKS/chemical effects of nuclear explosions on
(E/T)