Deformation history of competent interbeds in layered evaporites, waste isolation pilot plant (WIPP), SE New Mexico
Evaporite sequence have been studied as hosts for radioactive wastes. In addition to halite, layered evaporites are characterized by anhydritic, dolomitic and argillitic interbeds. Such interbeds range in thickness from centrimeters to meters. Questions regarding such interbeds are: 1) are there structural events masked in halite but exhibited in the interbeds; 2) will the interbeds have structurally distinct behavior, relative to halite, during creep closure of a repository; 3) can fluid migrate in the interbeds. With the development of the WIPP site, an interbed was exposed in shafts and drillcore at 2200ft below ground level. Study of this interbed addresses the questions above. 1) Structural events: As exhibited in the anhydritic interbed, some structures formed during deposition and diagenesis. Depositional structures are evident in the reworking of the interbed during the transition back into halite deposition. Post-diagenetic fractures, now partially infilled by polyhalite and halite, formed in the interbed. Later-stage fluids have become concentrated in fractures of the interbed. Such fluids are pressurized but irregularly distributed. Such fluid concentrations, whether in the geologic past or in the present as a response to the mined environment, could result from the migration of in situ fluids down pressure gradients into a fracture system, as it propagated in the past and/or present.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 6683263
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8510489-
- Journal Information:
- Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States), Journal Name: Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States) Vol. 17; ISSN GAAPB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
510500 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
520300 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
58 GEOSCIENCES
580300 -- Mineralogy
Petrology
& Rock Mechanics-- (-1989)
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ANHYDRITE
AQUICLUDES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM SULFATES
DEFORMATION
DIAGENESIS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EVAPORITES
FEDERAL REGION VI
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GROUND WATER
HALIDE MINERALS
HALITE
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
MECHANICS
MINERALS
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
ROCK MECHANICS
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
SITE SELECTION
SULFATE MINERALS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
USA
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
WATER