Petrophysical characteristics of basalt in the vadose zone, Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Eastern Snake River Plain, Idaho

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:6720337

Knutson, C F; Harrison, W E; Smith, R P

We have used a core characterization system to measure bulk densities, porosities, and permeabilities of basalt lavas from the vadose zone at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL). At the INEL, basalt lava flows with intercalated alluvial, aeolian, and lacustrine sediments extend to depths of one kilometer or more. Individual lava flows are generally less than 15 meters thick and commonly have vesicular tops and bottoms with massive basalt in their interiors. Petrophysical characterization is essential to an understanding of fluid movement in the vadose zone and in the saturated zone. Many hundreds of closely spaced permeability/porosity/bulk density measurements have defined the variability of these parameters within and between individual basalt flows. Based on geological logging and porosity/permeability measurements made on many hundred feet of core, we feel that a rather sophisticated and rigorous logging program is necessary to characterize these complex and highly variable basaltic flow units. This paper endeavors to provide a petrophysical/geological conceptual model of the Snake River Plain basalts from the vadose zone under the Radioactive Waste Management Complex area at the INEL. We hope that this model will aid in subsequent geotechnical logging in this portion of the Eastern Snake River Plain. 8 refs., 14 figs., 2 tabs.

• Research Organization: EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/RW
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-76ID01570
• OSTI ID: 6720337
• Report Number(s): EGG-M-89243; CONF-891057--5; ON: DE90010940
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540250 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (1990-)
58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
BASALT
BULK DENSITY
DENSITY
FLUID FLOW
GEOLOGIC MODELS
GEOLOGY
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
IDAHO NATIONAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY
IGNEOUS ROCKS
LAVA
MEASURING METHODS
MORPHOLOGY
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
PERMEABILITY
PETROLOGY
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POROSITY
ROCKS
SNAKE RIVER PLAIN
SURVEYS
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VOLCANIC ROCKS
WELL LOGGING