Geologic feasibility of talc and serpentinite bodies from the Appalachian Mountain region of eastern United States with regard to siting of radioactive-waste repositories. Part I. Additional conclusions relating to ultramafic rocks. Part II. Field investigations of talc and serpentinite deposits. Supplementary report

• Main Author: Wenner, D.B.
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: 12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; 58 GEOSCIENCES; RADIOACTIVE WASTE STORAGE; UNDERGROUND STORAGE; GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES; GEOLOGY; MARYLAND; ROCKS; SCHISTS; SERPENTINE; TALC; VERMONT; ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS; CENTRAL REGION; MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS; MAGNESIUM SILICATES; MANAGEMENT; MINERALS; NORTH AMERICA; NORTH ATLANTIC REGION; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; SILICATES; SILICON COMPOUNDS; STORAGE; USA; WASTE MANAGEMENT; WASTE STORAGE; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/7220370; https://www.osti.gov/biblio/7220370; https://doi.org/10.2172/7220370

Ultramafic rocks and serpentinites appear to have many favorable features that make them worthy of further consideration. Such rock types are widely distributed in this country and display wide variations in their physical properties, based largely on the degree of serpentinization and mineral content. For example, serpentinite has certain self-sealing and flowage characteristics that render it impermeable at depth, whereas unserpentinized ultramafic rocks are structurally very rigid and strong. Another favorable property of ultramafic rocks is the relatively low thermal expansion coefficient. Talc also has some favorable features and characteristics such as a high thermal stability and a low porosity and permeability. This present study has verified that very little ground water influx occurs in talcose rocks except in large fault zones. A major drawback for the usage of talc for containment of radioactive wastes is due to the relatively small sizes of most bodies. However, some of the large talc-carbonate units in the Missisquoi Valley Region of Vermont has potential. Consideration should also be given to other crystalline rocks as well, particularly schists, since they commonly contain micaceous materials which have similar properties to talc and serpentine. In considering various types of rocks for containment of radioactive wastes, the important properties are thermal conductivities, thermal expansion coefficients, thermal stabilities, and how high radiation fluxes affect these properties. (DLC)