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Title: Mineralogical characterization of selected shales in support of nuclear waste repository studies: Progress report, October 1987--September 1988

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5836404· OSTI ID:5836404
 [1];  [1];  [2]
  1. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
  2. Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge, LA (United States)

One objective of the Sedimentary Rock Program at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory has been to examine end-member shales to develop a data base that will aid in evaluations if shales are ever considered as a repository host rock. Five end-member shales were selected for comprehensive characterization: the Chattanooga Shale from Fentress County, Tennessee; the Pierre Shale from Gregory County, South Dakota; the Green River Formation from Garfield County, Colorado; and the Nolichucky Shale and Pumpkin Valley Shale from Roane County, Tennessee. Detailed micromorphological and mineralogical characterizations of the shales were completed by Lee et al. (1987) in ORNL/TM-10567. This report is a supplemental characterization study that was necessary because second batches of the shale samples were needed for additional studies. Selected physical, chemical, and mineralogical properties were determined for the second batches; and their properties were compared with the results from the first batches. Physical characterization indicated that the second-batch and first-batch samples had a noticeable difference in apparent-size distributions but had similar primary-particle-size distributions. There were some differences in chemical composition between the batches, but these differences were not considered important in comparison with the differences among the end-member shales. The results of x-ray diffraction analyses showed that the second batches had mineralogical compositions very similar to the first batches. 9 refs., 9 figs., 4 tabs.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (RW)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400
OSTI ID:
5836404
Report Number(s):
ORNL/TM-10968; ON: DE89015650
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products. Environmental Sciences Division Publication No. 3225
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English