Aged Nuclear Explosive Melt Glass: Radiography and Scanning Electron Microscope Analyses Documenting Both Radionuclide Distribution and Glass Alteration Metadata
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Title
- Main Title Aged Nuclear Explosive Melt Glass: Radiography and Scanning Electron Microscope Analyses Documenting Both Radionuclide Distribution and Glass Alteration
Creator
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Author: Eaton, G. F.Creator Type: Personal
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Author: Smith, D. K.Creator Type: Personal
Contributor
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Sponsor: United States. Department of Energy. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Defense Programs.Contributor Type: OrganizationContributor Info: USDOE Office of Defense Programs (DP) (United States)
Publisher
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Name: Lawrence Livermore National LaboratoryPlace of Publication: CaliforniaAdditional Info: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
Date
- Creation: 2000-03-28
Language
- English
Description
- Content Description: Assessment of the long-term performance of nuclear melt glass under saturated conditions provides insight into factors controlling radionuclide release into groundwater. Melt glass samples were collected from an underground nuclear detonation cavity at the Nevada Test Site that was in contact with groundwater for more than 10 years. The samples were made into thin sections and the distribution of alpha activity mapped using CR-39 plastic detectors. The melt glass is visually heterogeneous and the results of the alpha track radiography indicate that the highest alpha activity is associated with areas of dark colored glass. Analyses of the thin sections by alpha spectrometry show the prominent actinide species to be {sup 238}Pu, {sup 239}Pu and {sup 241}Am. Scanning electron microprobe analysis of the bulk glass shows conspicuous alteration layers lining internal vesicle surfaces in the glass. X-ray diffraction patterns for the alteration phases are consistent with clay mineral compositions. Glass dissolution models indicate these layers are too thick to have formed at ambient temperatures over the 10 year period in which they remained in a saturated environment. This implies the alteration layers likely formed at temperatures higher than ambient during cooling of the cavity following the underground detonation. Mobilization of this clay alteration layer as colloidal particles in groundwater represents a potential source of actinide release into the environment.
- Physical Description: 591 Kilobytes pages
Subject
- Keyword: Electron Microprobe Analysis
- Keyword: Radioisotopes
- Keyword: X-Ray Diffraction
- Keyword: Ambient Temperature
- STI Subject Categories: 36 Materials Science
- Keyword: Electron Microscopes
- Keyword: Nevada Test Site
- Keyword: Explosions
- Keyword: Nuclear Explosives
- Keyword: Glass
- Keyword: Radionuclide Kinetics
- Keyword: Chemistry
- Keyword: Distribution
- STI Subject Categories: 45 Military Technology, Weaponry, And National Defense
Source
- Conference: Methods & Applications of Radioanalytical Chemistry (MARC V), Kailus-Kona, HI (US), 04/09/2000--04/14/2000
Collection
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Name: Office of Scientific & Technical Information Technical ReportsCode: OSTI
Institution
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Name: UNT Libraries Government Documents DepartmentCode: UNTGD
Resource Type
- Article
Format
- Text
Identifier
- Report No.: UCRL-JC-136658
- Grant Number: W-7405-Eng-48
- Office of Scientific & Technical Information Report Number: 793990
- Archival Resource Key: ark:/67531/metadc742815