SOME EFFECTS OF UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS ON TUFF
The effects of the Rainier, 1.7 kt at a scaled depth of 690 ft; Logan, 5 at 482; and Blanca, 19 at 319, explosions on tuff were determined from observations and measurements on the surface and in drill holes and tunnels. Rock slides above the explosion points were the most obvious surface effects. Movement took place mainly along preexplosion fractures. Displacements were observed at distances up to 3,000 feet on the surface and up to 2,500 feet in tunnels. Below the Rainier chamber a hemispherical breccia zone about 75 feet in radius was found. The breccia contains angular blocks of tuff in a pulverized matrix which contains droplets and fragments of radioactive glass. The glass contains the bulk of the fission products and seems to be restricted to the breccia zone. Beyond the breccia for a radial distance of at least 110 feet from the chamber, the tuff is minutely fractured and is characterized by low compressive strength, low velocity, and high permeability. One year after the explosion, temperatares greater than 2 deg C above normal extended 120 feet horizontally and 80 feet vertically from the chamber. Integration of anomalous temperature data indicates that over half the energy in the explosion was in the form of heat. The temperatures probably dropped below the boiling point of water a few hours or days after the explosion because of the rapid transfer of heat by steam through explosion-produced and natural fractures. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Geological Survey, Washington, D.C.
- NSA Number:
- NSA-14-014611
- OSTI ID:
- 4187930
- Report Number(s):
- TEI-756
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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