Regional geological assessment of the Devonian-Mississippian shale sequence of the Appalachian, Illinois, and Michigan basins relative to potential storage/disposal of radioactive wastes

Technical Report · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6594947· OSTI ID:6594947

Lomenick, T F; Gonzales, S; Johnson, K S; Byerly, D

The thick and regionally extensive sequence of shales and associated clastic sedimentary rocks of Late Devonian and Early Mississippian age has been considered among the nonsalt geologies for deep subsurface containment of high-level radioactive wastes. This report examines some of the regional and basin-specific characteristics of the black and associated nonblack shales of this sequence within the Appalachian, Illinois, and Michigan basins of the north-central and eastern United States. Principal areas where the thickness and depth of this shale sequence are sufficient to warrant further evaluation are identified, but no attempt is made to identify specific storage/disposal sites. Also identified are other areas with less promise for further study because of known potential conflicts such as geologic-hydrologic factors, competing subsurface priorities involving mineral resources and groundwater, or other parameters. Data have been compiled for each basin in an effort to indicate thickness, distribution, and depth relationships for the entire shale sequence as well as individual shale units in the sequence. Included as parts of this geologic assessment are isopach, depth information, structure contour, tectonic elements, and energy-resource maps covering the three basins. Summary evaluations are given for each basin as well as an overall general evaluation of the waste storage/disposal potential of the Devonian-Mississippian shale sequence,including recommendations for future studies to more fully characterize the shale sequence for that purpose. Based on data compiled in this cursory investigation, certain rock units have reasonable promise for radioactive waste storage/disposal and do warrant additional study.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 6594947
• Report Number(s): ORNL-5703; ON: DE83005178
• 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
58 GEOSCIENCES
580100 -- Geology & Hydrology-- (-1989)
ALABAMA
APPALACHIA
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
BLACK SHALES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHATTANOOGA FORMATION
DEPTH
DIMENSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION II
FEDERAL REGION III
FEDERAL REGION IV
FEDERAL REGION V
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOLOGY
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
HYDROLOGY
ILLINOIS
ILLINOIS BASIN
INDIANA
KENTUCKY
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MICHIGAN
NEW YORK
NORTH AMERICA
OHIO
OIL SHALES
PENNSYLVANIA
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SHALES
STRATIGRAPHY
TECTONICS
TENNESSEE
THICKNESS
USA
VIRGINIA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WEST VIRGINIA