Evidence for an unsaturated-zone origin of secondary minerals in Yucca Mountain, Nevada
The unsaturated zone (UZ) in Miocene-age welded tuffs at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, is under consideration as a potential site for the construction of a high-level radioactive waste repository. Secondary calcite and silica minerals deposited on fractures and in cavities in the UZ tuffs are texturally, isotopically, and geochemically consistent with UZ deposition from meteoric water infiltrating at the surface and percolating through the UZ along fractures. Nonetheless, two-phase fluid inclusions with small and consistent vapor to liquid (V:L) ratios that yield consistent temperatures within samples and which range from about 35 to about 80 C between samples have led some to attribute these deposits to formation from upwelling hydrothermal waters. Geochronologic studies have shown that calcite and silica minerals began forming at least 10 Ma and continued to form into the Holocene. If their deposition were really from upwelling water flooding the UZ, it would draw into question the suitability of the site as a waste repository.
- Research Organization:
- U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Department of Energy (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AI08-97NV12033
- OSTI ID:
- 794106
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 2001 International High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference, Las Vegas, NV (US), 04/29/2001--05/03/2001; Other Information: PBD: 29 Apr 2001
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Calcite Fluid Inclusion, Paragenetic, and Oxygen Isotopic Records of Thermal Event(s) at Yucca Mountain, Nevada
Vertical Distribution of Calcite at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, as an Indicator of Flow Through a Thick Unsaturated Zone
Related Subjects
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
CALCITE
DEPOSITION
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GROUND WATER
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
ORIGIN
SILICA
YUCCA MOUNTAIN
MINERALOGY
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
UNSATURATED ZONE
SECONDARY
MINERALS