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Title: Diffusive mass transport in agglomerated glassy fallout from a near-surface nuclear test

Abstract

Aerodynamically-shaped glassy fallout is formed when vapor phase constituents from the nuclear device are incorporated into molten carriers (i.e. fallout precursor materials derived from soil or other near-field environmental debris). The effects of speciation and diffusive transport of condensing constituents are not well defined in models of fallout formation. Previously we reported observations of diffuse micrometer scale layers enriched in Na, Fe, Ca, and 235U, and depleted in Al and Ti, at the interfaces of agglomerated fallout objects. Here in this paper, we derive the timescales of uranium mass transport in such fallout as it cools from 2500 K to 1500 K by applying a 1-dimensional planar diffusion model to the observed 235U/30Si variation at the interfaces. By modeling the thermal transport between the fireball and the carrier materials, the time of mass transport is calculated to be <0.6 s, <1 s, <2 s, and <3.5 s for fireball yields of 0.1 kt, 1 kt, 10 kt, and 100 kt respectively. Based on the calculated times of mass transport, a maximum temperature of deposition of uranium onto the carrier material of ~2200 K is inferred (1σ uncertainty of ~200 K). We also determine that the occurrence of micrometer scale layersmore » of material enriched in relatively volatile Na-species as well as more refractory Ca-species provides evidence for an oxygen-rich fireball based on the vapor pressure of the two species under oxidizing conditions. These results represent the first application of diffusion-based modeling to derive material transport, thermal environments, and oxidation-speciation in near-surface nuclear detonation environments.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1]
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  1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States). Glenn T. Seaborg Inst.
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
OSTI Identifier:
1417958
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-728825
Journal ID: ISSN 0016-7037; TRN: US1801219
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC52-07NA27344; NA0000979
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 223; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0016-7037
Publisher:
The Geochemical Society; The Meteoritical Society
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
58 GEOSCIENCES; 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; 45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE; 38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY

Citation Formats

Weisz, David G., Jacobsen, Benjamin, Marks, Naomi E., Knight, Kim B., Isselhardt, Brett H., and Matzel, Jennifer E.. Diffusive mass transport in agglomerated glassy fallout from a near-surface nuclear test. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1016/j.gca.2017.12.011.
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Weisz, David G., Jacobsen, Benjamin, Marks, Naomi E., Knight, Kim B., Isselhardt, Brett H., & Matzel, Jennifer E.. Diffusive mass transport in agglomerated glassy fallout from a near-surface nuclear test. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2017.12.011
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Weisz, David G., Jacobsen, Benjamin, Marks, Naomi E., Knight, Kim B., Isselhardt, Brett H., and Matzel, Jennifer E.. Fri . "Diffusive mass transport in agglomerated glassy fallout from a near-surface nuclear test". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2017.12.011. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1417958.
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@article{osti_1417958,
title = {Diffusive mass transport in agglomerated glassy fallout from a near-surface nuclear test},
author = {Weisz, David G. and Jacobsen, Benjamin and Marks, Naomi E. and Knight, Kim B. and Isselhardt, Brett H. and Matzel, Jennifer E.},
abstractNote = {Aerodynamically-shaped glassy fallout is formed when vapor phase constituents from the nuclear device are incorporated into molten carriers (i.e. fallout precursor materials derived from soil or other near-field environmental debris). The effects of speciation and diffusive transport of condensing constituents are not well defined in models of fallout formation. Previously we reported observations of diffuse micrometer scale layers enriched in Na, Fe, Ca, and 235U, and depleted in Al and Ti, at the interfaces of agglomerated fallout objects. Here in this paper, we derive the timescales of uranium mass transport in such fallout as it cools from 2500 K to 1500 K by applying a 1-dimensional planar diffusion model to the observed 235U/30Si variation at the interfaces. By modeling the thermal transport between the fireball and the carrier materials, the time of mass transport is calculated to be <0.6 s, <1 s, <2 s, and <3.5 s for fireball yields of 0.1 kt, 1 kt, 10 kt, and 100 kt respectively. Based on the calculated times of mass transport, a maximum temperature of deposition of uranium onto the carrier material of ~2200 K is inferred (1σ uncertainty of ~200 K). We also determine that the occurrence of micrometer scale layers of material enriched in relatively volatile Na-species as well as more refractory Ca-species provides evidence for an oxygen-rich fireball based on the vapor pressure of the two species under oxidizing conditions. These results represent the first application of diffusion-based modeling to derive material transport, thermal environments, and oxidation-speciation in near-surface nuclear detonation environments.},
doi = {10.1016/j.gca.2017.12.011},
journal = {Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta},
number = C,
volume = 223,
place = {United States},
year = {2017},
month = {12}
}
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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2017.12.011
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  • Weisz, David G.; Jacobsen, Benjamin; Marks, Naomi E.
  • Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Vol. 201
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