[en] The Semipalatinsk test site territory became available to geological research only in 1991, after stopping of nuclear tests. From information concerning the mineral deposits, we can learn about the geological heritage. The test site area has a unique combination of naturally-influenced and human-influenced geologic sites. These need research, classification, description, and preservation in order the use the geological heritage. (author)

[en] Short communication

[en] A method for detecting radioactive species associated with mineralogical system, whose solid phases are unknown was used for the assessment of the presence of mineral oil in a reservoir in the northern Gaza Heavy Oil. The overall objective of this work is to identify mineral phases and radioactive species in rock minerals. To fulfill the same the following specific objectives were applied: Detect with the use of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) elemental composition of the rock minerals, determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) crystalline minerals and apply gamma spectrometry shoal (EGBF) for knowledge of radioactive species. XRF results showed the presence of the elements potassium, calcium, oxygen, iron, magnesium, aluminum, silicon and sodium. With the analysis of EGBF the presence of radioactive atomic species (potassium, thorium and uranium) which offers the possibility that oil is in the area under investigation was found. montmorillonite, albite, zeolite and quartz, pyrite and hematite: By using the XRD phases of the smectite group were determined. (Author)

[en] This paper describes the role of the quality assurance liaison, the responsibilities of this position, and the evolutionary changes in duties over the last six years. The role of the quality assurance liaison has had a very positive impact on the Los Alamos Yucca Mountain Site Characterization (YW) quality assurance program. Having both technical and quality assurance expertise, the quality assurance liaisons are able to facilitate communications with scientists on quality assurance issues and requirements, thereby generating greater productivity in scientific investigations. The quality assurance liaisons help ensure that the scientific community knows and implements existing requirements, is aware of new or changing regulations, and is able to conduct scientific work within Project requirements. The influence of the role of the quality assurance liaison can be measured by an overall improvement in attitude of the staff regarding quality assurance requirements and improved job performance, as well as a decrease in deficiencies identified during both internal and external audits and surveillances. This has resulted in a more effective implementation of quality assurance requirements

[en] Computer-assisted geological cross section balancing methods are used in the geometric and kinematic analysis of subsurface structures in the vicinity of Yucca Mountain, Nevada, including underlying listric normal fault and detachment fault geometries and their relationships in a linked fault system. Dips of hanging wall fault blocks are directly related to the shapes of underlying curved normal and detachment faults. Arrays of small faults that are pervasively distributed through the hanging wall blocks are interpreted to be the bulk deformation mechanism of the block. As the hanging wall slides over the underlying fault surface, the fault block deforms to accommodate itself to the shape of the fault. Distributed slip on the small fault array is assumed to accomplish this shape change. The deformation is modeled as general simple shear, such that changes in shape of the model fault blocks take place by distributed slip on uniformly oriented slip surfaces that are evenly spaced through the area of the block, replicating the behavior of a deck of cards. Computed listric normal fault trajectories and surface geologic data constrain the range of compatible depths to potential detachment fault zones below Yucca Mountain to between about 3.5 and 6 kilometers. This is at least 1 to 2 kilometers deeper than the contact between the base of the Tertiary volcanics and the Paleozoic section. Preliminary balanced versions of sections A-A' and B-B' of Scott and Bonk show that assumption of a vertical simple shear deformation mechanism for fault block distortion will produce geologically reasonable subsurface models of faulting

[en] Unexploded ordnance (UXO) site characterization must consider both how the contamination is generated and how we observe that contamination. Within the generation and observation processes, dependence structures can be exploited at multiple scales. We describe a conceptual site characterization process, the dependence structures available at several scales, and consider their statistical estimation aspects. It is evident that most of the statistical methods that are needed to address the estimation problems are known but their application-specific implementation may not be available. We demonstrate estimation at one scale and propose a representation for site contamination intensity that takes full account of uncertainty, is flexible enough to answer regulatory requirements, and is a practical tool for managing detailed spatial site characterization and remediation. The representation is based on point process spatial estimation methods that require modern computational resources for practical application. These methods have provisions for including prior and covariate information.

[en] The foraging behaviour of ancient packrats is turning out to be a valuable source of data about the long-term environmental stability of proposed nuclear waste repositories. Material collected immediately round the pack rat's den and deposited in middens has been left in a perfectly preserved state due to mummification in an arid environment. The data from the middens yields very precise information about climate and ecological conditions at the time of their creation tens of thousands of years ago. (Author)

[en] During the period of October 15 and 18, 2007, ORISE performed confirmatory radiological survey activities which included beta and gamma structural surface scans and beta activity direct measurements within the Auxiliary Building, beta or gamma scans within Turbine Building embedded piping, beta activity determinations within Turbine Building Drain 3-1-27, and gamma scans and the collection of a soil sample from the clay soils adjacent to the Lower Mixing Box

[en] The environmental remediation of an ancient nuclear facility requires a complete clean-up of the site. The first step of the process is to perform a radiological characterisation of the soil and buildings. CEA (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission) has developed a method to optimize the number of measurements and sampling to do and to define the adequate soil depth to investigate in order to assess the amount of contaminated materials. This method is based on the feedback experience acquired during the dismantling and clean-up of all the nuclear installations present on the CEA center of Fontenay-aux-Roses (FR). The data processing uses a geostatistical method that was developed in the fifties for the characterisation of mine seams. According to that method more sampling are necessary in areas where variability and doubt are great rather than in areas where the level of radioactivity is the highest. (A.C.)

[en] Radionuclide (³H, ⁹⁰Sr, ¹³⁷Cs, ²³⁸Pu, ²³⁹Pu, total U) and heavy metal (Ag, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Tl) contents were determined in soil, vegetation (overstory and understory), and fish (rainbow trout) collected around and within Tsicoma Lake in Santa Clara Canyon in 1995. All heavy metal and most radionuclide contents around or within the lake, except for U in soil, vegetation, and fish, were within or just above upper limit background. Detectable levels (where the analytical result was greater than two times counting uncertainty) of U in soils, vegetation, and fish were found in slightly higher concentrations than in background samples. Overall, however, maximum total committed effective dose equivalent (CEDE)(95% confidence level)--based on consumption of 46 lb of fish--from Tsicoma Lake (0.066 mrem/y) was within the maximum total CEDE from the ingestion of fish from the Mescalero National Fish Hatchery (background)(0.113 mrem/y)