Natural repository analouge program. Progress report, January 1-March 31, 1981

Technical Report · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6155241· OSTI ID:6155241

Curtis, D B ^[1]

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1. comp.

Samples from Oklo Reactor zone-9 (ORZ-9) have been analyzed for the isotopic abundances of Nd, Ce, Ru, and Mo. Interpretation of the Nd data has begun as part of the effort to reconstruct the operating parameters of the reactor. The study of ORZ-9 and the peripheral rocks is being enhanced by additional analytical capabilities. A procedure was developed to measure uranium isotopic ratios with high precision. This new method was used for the analysis of rocks peripheral to ORZ-9. Two rocks containing relatively small quantities of uranium were depleted in /sup 235/U. The result demonstrates that small quantities of uranium were removed from the reactor zone and redistributed over distances of several tens of meters. Procedures are being designed to make high precision measurements of the relative abundances of barium isotopes. They will be used as part of a study of the transport of alkali and alkaline earth elements at Oklo. Samples from distances up to 300 meters from the known mineralized area at Oklo have been selected and prepared in an effort to identify element transport paths over longer distances. A sample from the Athabasca sandstone, overlying the uranium ores at Key Lake, and another from the transition zone at the unconfromity between the sandstone and the basement were subjected to sequential leaches designed to preferentially dissolve specific minerals. Lead isotopic analyses on the leachs yielded two sets of data, which indicate the loss of uranium or the addition of lead from a radiogenic source early in the geologic history of the rocks.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 6155241
• Report Number(s): LA-8850-PR; ON: DE81026810
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

052002* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Waste Disposal & Storage
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
BARIUM ISOTOPES
DATA
DATA COMPILATION
DISTRIBUTION
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
FISSION PRODUCTS
FRACTIONATION
INFORMATION
ISOTOPES
MANAGEMENT
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
NATURAL NUCLEAR REACTORS
NATURAL RADIOACTIVITY
NEODYMIUM ISOTOPES
NUMERICAL DATA
OKLO PHENOMENON
ORES
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SPECTROSCOPY
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
URANIUM ISOTOPES
URANIUM ORES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT