skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Geoscience parameter data base handbook: granites and basalts

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5719576· OSTI ID:5719576

The Department of Energy has the responsibility for selecting and constructing Federal repositories for radioactive waste. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission must license such repositories prior to construction. The basic requirement in the geologic disposal of radioactive waste is stated as: placement in a geologic host whereby the radioactive waste is not in mechanical, thermal or chemical equilibrium with the object of preventing physical or chemical migration of radionuclides into the biosphere or hydrosphere in hazardous concentration (USGS, 1977). The object of this report is to document the known geologic parameters of large granite and basalt occurrences in the coterminous United States, for future evaluation in the selection and licensing of radioactive waste repositories. The description of the characteristics of certain potential igneous hosts has been limited to existing data pertaining to the general geologic character, geomechanics, and hydrology of identified occurrences. A description of the geochemistry is the subject of a separate report.

Research Organization:
Owens (Willard) Associates, Inc., Wheat Ridge, CO (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
5719576
Report Number(s):
UCRL-15152; TRN: 80-004422
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English