Microcharacterization of basalt: Considerations for a nuclear waste repository
The National Waste Terminal Storage Program of the US Department of Energy is assessing a number of rock types to determine their suitability for the disposal of nuclear wastes. As a part of this effort, the Basalt Waste Isolation Project (BWIP) is investigating the Pasco Basin in southeastern Washington State as the possible site of a nuclear waste repository in basalt (NWRB). The microcharacterization work described in this paper results in a detailed identification of the minerals and other phase assemblages that provide the basis for a determination of the environment that acts to control geochemical conditions in an NWRB. Interactions between the basalt, groundwater, and proposed waste packages are being studied to ensure that the final repository and waste package designs meet all requirements for safety and isolation. The rock at the proposed repository location is a fine-grained tholeiite, containing crystals of plagioclase, pyroxene, and titaniferous magnetite plus a glass-rich mesostasis. Partial reaction of this mesostasis with groundwater is thought to be the predominant source of most elements in the groundwater. The composition of the mesostasis and its reaction thus should affect the chemical environment of the waste packages. For this reason, microcharacterization of the mesostasis, particularly the glass phase, has been conducted by the BWIP in support of hydrothermal laboratory studies that provide data to geochemical and performance models. 5 refs., 3 figs., 1 tab.
- Research Organization:
- Rockwell International Corp., Richland, WA (USA). Rockwell Hanford Operations
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/RW
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-77RL01030
- OSTI ID:
- 5083116
- Report Number(s):
- RHO-BW-SA-294; CONF-830871--9; ON: TI90006861
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
053000 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Environmental Aspects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
BASALT
GROUND WATER
HANFORD RESERVATION
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IGNEOUS ROCKS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROGRAPHY
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
ROCKS
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VOLCANIC ROCKS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WATER