Transport of symmetric mass region fission products at the Oklo natural reactors

The isotopic composition of Pd, Ag, Cd and Te has been measured by solid source mass spectrometry for four samples from reactor zones 2, 3-4, 5-6 and 7, and from four host rock samples external to the reactor zones from the Oklo mine site. The concentrations of these elements have also been determined in the eight samples using the stable isotope dilution technique. Cumulative fission yields have been derived from the reactor zone samples after correcting where necessary for the terrestrial component of the element concerned. It has been shown that fission-produced Pd and Te are retained almost in their entirety in the uraninite reactor zone samples, whereas a significant fraction of fission-produced Ag and Cd have migrated from the reactor zones. Fission product Cd is observed in the host rock samples, whereas no strong evidence of fission-produced Ag could be found. This the fission-produced Ag which has migrated from the reactor zones has not been retained in the four host rock samples analysed, although the presence of fission product Ag may be masked by the presence of natural Ag. It is possible that the fission product Ag has been retained in the Oklo mine-site, and further host rock samples will be studied to evaluate this possibility. The implications of these results to the storage of radioactive wastes in natural geological repositories is discussed. (orig.)