Spatially-Resolved Analyses of Aerodynamic Fallout from a Uranium-Fueled Nuclear Test

Lewis, L. A.; Knight, K. B.; Matzel, J. E.; Prussin, S. G.; Zimmer, M. M.; Kinman, W S; Ryerson, F. J.; Hutcheon, I. D.

doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.04.006

Title: Spatially-Resolved Analyses of Aerodynamic Fallout from a Uranium-Fueled Nuclear Test

Journal Article · Tue Jul 28 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Journal of Environmental Radioactivity

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.04.006· OSTI ID:1234626

Lewis, L. A. ^[1]; Knight, K. B. ^[2]; Matzel, J. E. ^[3]; Prussin, S. G. ^[4]; Zimmer, M. M. ^[5]; Kinman, W S ^[5]; Ryerson, F. J. ^[2]; Hutcheon, I. D. ^[2]

Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States);
Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

The fiive silicate fallout glass spherules produced in a uranium-fueled, near-surface nuclear test were characterized by secondary ion mass spectrometry, electron probe microanalysis, autoradiography, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. Several samples display compositional heterogeneity suggestive of incomplete mixing between major elements and natural U (²³⁸U/²³⁵U = 0.00725) and enriched U. Samples exhibit extreme spatial heterogeneity in U isotopic composition with 0.02 < ²³⁵U/²³⁸U < 11.84 among all five spherules and 0.02 < ²³⁵U/²³⁸U < 7.41 within a single spherule. Moreover, in two spherules, the ²³⁵U/²³⁸U ratio is correlated with changes in major element composition, suggesting the agglomeration of chemically and isotopically distinct molten precursors. Two samples are nearly homogenous with respect to major element and uranium isotopic composition, suggesting extensive mixing possibly due to experiencing higher temperatures or residing longer in the fireball. Linear correlations between ²³⁴U/²³⁸U, ²³⁵U/²³⁸U, and ²³⁶U/²³⁸U ratios are consistent with a two-component mixing model, which is used to illustrate the extent of mixing between natural and enriched U end members.

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Research Organization:: Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC52-07NA27344

OSTI ID:: 1234626

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1249601

Report Number(s):: LLNL-JRNL-670091

Journal Information:: Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Vol. 148; ISSN 0265-931X

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Citation Metrics:

Cited by: 27 works

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Synthesis and characterization of surrogate nuclear explosion debris: urban glass matrix Campbell, Keri; Judge, Elizabeth J.; Dirmyer, Matthew R. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Vol. 314, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5367-y	journal	July 2017
Plutonium segregation in glassy aerodynamic fallout from a nuclear weapon test Holliday, K. S.; Dierken, J. M.; Monroe, M. L. Dalton Transactions, Vol. 46, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1039/c6dt04184a	journal	January 2017
Mapping of Uranium in Surrogate Nuclear Debris Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) Shattan, Michael B.; Gragston, Mark; Zhang, Zhili Applied Spectroscopy, Vol. 73, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1177/0003702819842871	journal	March 2019

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