EARTH DEFORMATION FROM A NUCLEAR DETONATION IN SALT

Technical Report · Mon Jan 22 04:00:00 EST 1962

OSTI ID:4800627

Hoy, R B; Foose, R M

Measurement of rock deformation caused by the Gnome explosion revealed that maximum permanent surface displacement was confined to an area within 100 meters of surface ground zero. The surface above ground zero remained permanently raised 0.3 to 0.5 meters after an initial transient displacement estimated to be 1.5 meters. The permanent deformation was characterized by fractures with off sets up to 0.2 meters. Abundant hair-line fractures were observed out to 300 meters. Occasional small fractures were noted as far as 1000 meters from surface ground zero. Underground, fractures were observed in the shaft lining at meters. The tunnel examination, which prior to January 10 was limited to the station near the bottom of the shaft, revealed an irregularly cone- shaped pile of slabs reaching a maximum height of 1.2 meters at the center of the room. Four large slabs had fallen from the walls and fine spalling had removed most of a reference grid which was painted on the wall. Indications are that a stable cavity 40 meters high was formed which could be used for underground storage or to assist in mineral extraction. (auth)

• Research Organization: Stanford Research Inst., Menlo Park, Calif.
• NSA Number: NSA-16-012803
• OSTI ID: 4800627
• Report Number(s): PNE-109P
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CAVITIES
CONFIGURATION
DEFORMATION
EARTH
FAILURES
GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
MEASURED VALUES
MINERALS
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
PLATES
ROCKS
SALTS
STORAGE
SURFACES
WATER