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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

GEOLOGY UNDERLYING HANFORD REACTOR AREAS

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4814520
The latest concepts of the geology underlying the Hanford Reactor Areas are summarized. There are three distinct geologic units beneath the reactor areas: the Columbia River Basalt, the Ringold formation, and the Glaciofluvi- atile sediments. The basait series forms the bedrock beneath the reactor areas and is generally compact, hard, and dense. The Ringold Formation overlies and is largely conformable to the basalt. Thrs formation is an extensive lacustrine and fluviatile deposrt of sand, silt, gravel, and clay. Overlying the Ringold formation to a maximum depth of l70 ft is a sedimentary deposit of fluviatile and glaciofluviatile outwash sands and gravels. The structure of the materials underlying the reactor areas reflects the deformation occurring essentially continuously for the last several million years. The contour of the water table in the region underlying the reactor areas reflects strongly the contact between the Ringold Formation and the Glaciofluviatile sediments. (auth)
Research Organization:
General Electric Co. Hanford Atomic Products Operation, Richland, Wash.
DOE Contract Number:
AT(45-1)-1350
NSA Number:
NSA-16-022401
OSTI ID:
4814520
Report Number(s):
HW-69571
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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