Mineralogy of the Culebra Dolomite Member of the Rustler Formation

Technical Report · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5524095· OSTI ID:5524095

Sewards, Terry ^[1]; Williams, Michael L. ^[1]; Keil, Klaus ^[1]

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1. Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States)

This report characterizes the mineralogy of the Culebra Member of the Rustler Formation based on studies of samples from cores of eight boreholes surrounding the WIPP repository. This investigation has three main goals: to obtain accurate modal compositions of all the samples selected; to investigate both the lateral and vertical variation of the mineralogy of the Culebra unit; and, to characterize water-bearing fracture surfaces in particular detail. The Culebra Dolomite member of the Rustler Formation is mineralogically and texturally heterogeneous, both vertically and horizontally. Although the predominant mineral is dolomite, important constituents of the formation are clay, quartz, gypsum, and calcite. Trace minerals include halite, phyllosilicates of metamorphic origin, feldspar, and pyrite.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States); Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 5524095
• Report Number(s): SAND--90-7008; ON: DE91014327
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
BOREHOLES
CALCITE
CALCIUM CARBONATES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM SULFATES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATE MINERALS
CARBONATES
CAVITIES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CLAYS
COHERENT SCATTERING
DIFFRACTION
DOLOMITE
ELECTRON MICROPROBE ANALYSIS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GYPSUM
MAGNESIUM CARBONATES
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
MICROANALYSIS
MICROSCOPY
MINERALOGY
MINERALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
OPTICAL MICROSCOPY
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROGRAPHY
PILOT PLANTS
POROSITY
QUARTZ
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
SCATTERING
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
SPECTROSCOPY
SULFATE MINERALS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
WIPP
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
X-RAY EMISSION ANALYSIS
X-RAY FLUORESCENCE ANALYSIS