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Rapid seepage of contaminants through the highwall of a uranium mill tailings pit. [MIGRAT]

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5193763
; ; ;
A computer code (MIGRAT) is used to quantify the migration of moisture and multiple retarded contaminants in the unsaturated zone and assess the impact of open mine disposal of uranium mill tailings. The model is applied to a generic uranium mill tailings. The model is applied to a generic uranium mill tailings pit constructed with a clay-lined bottom and steep unlined sidewalls. The migration of a two contaminant system is modeled assuming that neither contaminant decays and only one contaminant is retarded. This study shows the anticipated result that the major pathway from the pit to the underlying water table is through the sidewall and that the time scales for this pathway are much shorter than those associated with the clay liner. More importantly, this study reveals that due to the strong nonlinear character of the hydraulic properties of unsaturated soils, concentrations of the retarded contaminant may only slightly lag the nonretarded contaminant through this pathway and contamination of the uppermost aquifer by the retarded contaminant may occur shortly after contamination by the nonretarded contaminant. 2 references, 5 figures.
Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
OSTI ID:
5193763
Report Number(s):
CONF-840245-7; ON: DE84007517
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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