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Characterization of crushed tuff for the evaluation of the fate of tracers in transport studies in the unsaturated zone

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/59984· OSTI ID:59984
Results of field-scale (caisson) transport studies under unsaturated moisture and steady and nonsteady flow conditions indicate variability and a lack of conservation of mass in solute transport. The tuff materials used in that study were analyzed for the presence of tracers and of freshly precipitated material to help explain the variability and lack of conservation of mass. Selected tuff samples were characterized by neutron activation analysis for tracer identification, by x-ray diffraction for mineral identification, by petrographic analysis for identification of freshly precipitated material, and by x-ray fluorescence analysis for identification of major and trace elements. The results of these analyses indicate no obvious presence of freshly precipitated material that would retard tracer movement. The presence of the nonsorbing tracers (bromide and iodide) suggest the retention of these tracers in immobile water. The presence of the nonsorbing tracers (bromide and iodide) suggest the retention of these tracers in immobile water. The presence of sorbing and nonsorbing tracers on the tuff at some locations (even cesium at the 415-cm depth) and not at others suggests variability in transport. 15 refs., 14 figs., 9 tabs.
Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States); Texas Univ., El Paso, TX (United States); Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC (United States). Div. of Waste Management
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-36
OSTI ID:
59984
Report Number(s):
NUREG/CR--4875; LA--10962-MS; ON: TI87008301
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English