Volcanic hazard studies for the Yucca Mountain project
Conference
·
OSTI ID:60683
Volcanic hazard studies are ongoing to evaluate the risk of future volcanism with respect to siting of a repository for disposal of high-level radioactive waste at the Yucca Mountain site. Seven Quaternary basaltic volcanic centers are located a minimum distance of 12 km and a maximum distance of 47 km from the outer boundary of the exploration block. The conditional probability of disruption of a repository by future basaltic volcanism is bounded by the range of 10{sup {minus}8} to 10{sup {minus}10} yr{sup {minus}1}. These values are currently being reexamined based on new developments in the understanding of the evaluation of small volume, basaltic volcanic centers including: (1) Many, perhaps most, of the volcanic centers exhibit brief periods of eruptive activity separated by longer periods of inactivity. (2) The centers may be active for time spans exceeding 10{sup 5} yrs, (3) There is a decline in the volume of eruptions of the centers through time, and (4) Small volume eruptions occurred at two of the Quaternary centers during latest Pleistocene or Holocene time. We classify the basalt centers as polycyclic, and distinguish them from polygenetic volcanoes. Polycyclic volcanism is characterized by small volume, episodic eruptions of magma of uniform composition over time spans of 10{sup 3} to 10{sup 5} yrs. Magma eruption rates are low and the time between eruptions exceeds the cooling time of the magma volumes. 25 refs., 2 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 60683
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR--89-781; CONF-890207--16; ON: DE89009404
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Volcanic hazard studies for the Yucca Mountain project
Volcanism Studies: Final Report for the Yucca Mountain Project
Late Quaternary geology of small basaltic volcanic centers, SW USA: Disparity among dating methods and implications for volcanic and geomorphic studies
Conference
·
Sat Dec 30 23:00:00 EST 1989
·
OSTI ID:137918
Volcanism Studies: Final Report for the Yucca Mountain Project
Technical Report
·
Mon Nov 30 23:00:00 EST 1998
·
OSTI ID:12111
Late Quaternary geology of small basaltic volcanic centers, SW USA: Disparity among dating methods and implications for volcanic and geomorphic studies
Journal Article
·
Wed Dec 30 23:00:00 EST 1992
· Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs
·
OSTI ID:140009