Natural Analogues in Radioactive Waste DisposalB. Come, N.A. Chapman In order to validate predictive models of the very long-term processes which affect the performance of radioactive waste repositories, there has been an increased interest in the information and understanding which can be obtained from studying similar mechanisms in natural systems. These "natural analogues", as they are known in the jargon of waste management, have been studied sporadically for many years, but there has been a considerable rejuvenation of interest in the last four years, possibly owing to the fact that performance assessment methodolo gy is gradually maturing to the point where it needs the kind of support which analogues can offer. Since 1982, the Commission of the European Communities has been involved in specific work on natural analogues in the framework of its activities on radioactive waste management, principally within the MIRAGE project which concerns migration of radionuclides in the geosphere. As a consequence, the Commission took the initiative, in 1985, of establish ing a Natural Analogue Working Group (NAWG) whose members can benefit from the overall expertise available for managing their own natural analogue research programmes. In this group, modeller' s requirements and the results of field research are exchanged at regular intervals. A number of wide-ranging investigation programmes, both on national and international scales. are currently underway or being initiated, and several of these have been discussed recently at the NAWG. |
Contents
The role of natural analogues in safety assessment and acceptability | 12 |
Application of natural analogues studies to the longterm prediction of | 32 |
ANALOGUE SITE STUDIES 57 555 | 57 |
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actinides activity ratios analysis aquifer Auriat basaltic basaltic glass behaviour biotite Boom clay borehole brines Brookins calcite calculated carbonate chemical chlorite Cigar Lake colloid colloid concentrate composition core corrosion crystalline decay depth diffusion disequilibrium disposal distribution drill environment equilibrium feldspars Figure filter fission fissure flow fluid fluid inclusions formation fraction fracture geochemical geochemistry geological geothermal granite groundwater host rock humic colloids hydrothermal hydrothermal alteration indicate ions isotopic Koongarra laboratory layer leaching Marysvale matrix measured mineralogical mobility natural analogues nuclear waste nuclides occur Oklo oxidation parameters particles phases plutonic processes profiles quartz monzonite radioactive waste radiolysis radiolytic radionuclide migration radionuclides radwaste reaction redox reducing reduction haloes safety assessment samples sandstone sediments solubility solution sorption SSGF surface temperature thorium transport ultrafiltration uraninite uranium uranium deposits uranium series values veins Waste Management waste repository zone