Post Flow-Through Experiment Characterization of Volcanic Tuff and Carbonate Rock Cores from the Nevada Test Site Implications for Sm, U, Np, and Pu Transport
Date of Award
2005
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Natural Sciences
First Advisor
Sherman, Suzanne
Keywords
Nuclear, Geology, Radionuclide
Area of Concentration
Chemistry
Abstract
As part of the United States Nuclear Testing Program from 1951-1992, 828 underground nuclear tests were conducted at the Nevada Test Site (NTS). These detonations resulted in residual radioactivity being left behind which has the possibility of transporting in the subsurface. In order to assess the extent to which radionuclides migrate in the environment, a series of flowthrough experiments were conducted in which a cocktail consisting of radionuclides commonly associated with nuclear test debris was pumped through volcanic tuff and carbonate rock cores, major geologic types found at the NTS. To examine the interactions of Sm, U, Np, and Pu with the rock cores, alpha radiography, secondary ion mass spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, and electron microprobe analyses were performed. From these studies, Sm, U, Np, and Pu are shown to partition onto hematite and manganese-oxide minerals, with significantly more Sm associated with the rock matrix than U, Np, or Pu. In addition, the physical characterization methods, when used with previously determined sorption coefficients and elution data, provide an effective method for analyzing actinide transport behavior. Herein, the results of a series of flow-through experiments and the subsequent characterization of the rock core surfaces are reported.
Recommended Citation
Walensky, Justin R., "Post Flow-Through Experiment Characterization of Volcanic Tuff and Carbonate Rock Cores from the Nevada Test Site Implications for Sm, U, Np, and Pu Transport" (2005). Theses & ETDs. 3597.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/3597
Rights
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