Hafnium-bearing zircons in a volcanic breccia at Kalakot, Himalaya, India: insights into 'mineralogical approach' for nuclear waste-forms

Laser Raman Spectroscopy, SEM-EDX and optical microscopic studies were carried on hafnium-bearing zircons discovered in a rhyolitic breccia at Kalakot, North West Himalaya, India to get insights into the mechanism involved in self-radiation damage and related amorphization that are critical in designing stable and durable radio active waste-forms. The morphology, texture, and composition of the hafnium-bearing zircons from Kalakot and the complete solid solution between zircon (ZrSiO4) and hafnon (HfSiO4) as well as zircon-structured other orthosilicates ASiO4 (A = Th, U, Pu, or Ce) makes these robust minerals as ideal nuclear waste-forms with stability over geological times. (author)