Nuclear Melt Glass from Experimental Field, Semipalatinsk Test Site

Irina E. Vlasova, Vasily O. Yapaskurt, Alexei A. Averin, Oleg E. Melnik, Denis A. Zolotov, Roman A. Senin, Tatiana R. Poliakova, Iurii M. Nevolin, Stepan N. Kalmykov and Andrey A. Shiryaev ()
Additional contact information
Irina E. Vlasova: Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1 bld. 3, 119991 Moscow, Russia
Vasily O. Yapaskurt: Department of Geology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, 119991 Moscow, Russia
Alexei A. Averin: Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry RAS, Leninsky Prospect 31 bld. 4, 119071 Moscow, Russia
Oleg E. Melnik: Institute of Mechanics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Michurinskii pr., 1, 119192 Moscow, Russia
Denis A. Zolotov: FSRC “Crystallography and Photonics” RAS, Leninsky pr. 53, 119333 Moscow, Russia
Roman A. Senin: National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”, Ak.Kurchatov sq., 1, 123182 Moscow, Russia
Tatiana R. Poliakova: Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1 bld. 3, 119991 Moscow, Russia
Iurii M. Nevolin: Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1 bld. 3, 119991 Moscow, Russia
Stepan N. Kalmykov: Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1 bld. 3, 119991 Moscow, Russia
Andrey A. Shiryaev: Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1 bld. 3, 119991 Moscow, Russia

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 23, 1-24

Abstract: Investigation of shocked materials provides unique information about behavior of substances in extreme thermodynamic conditions. Near surface nuclear tests have induced multiple transformations of affected soils. Examination of nuclear glasses and relics of entrapped minerals provides a unique database on their behavior under an intense temperature flash. In this work, several types of nuclear fallout particles from historic tests at the Semipalatinsk test site are investigated using complementary analytical methods. Distribution of radionuclides in all types of samples is highly heterogeneous; domains with high content of radionuclides are often intermixed with non-active materials. There is no general correlation between chemical composition of the glassy matrix and content of radionuclides. In aerodynamic fallout, the main fraction of radionuclides is trapped in the outer glassy shell. Relics of quartz grains are always devoid of radionuclides, while glass regions of high activity have different composition. In contrast to underground tests, iron-rich minerals are not necessarily radioactive. In most cases, the glassy matrix in anhydrous and is strongly polymerized, and the Q 3 silicate groups dominate. Temperature-induced transformations of entrapped minerals are discussed. Investigation of zircon grains shows absence of a direct correlation between degree of decomposition into constituting oxides, morphology of resulting baddeleyite, and maximum experienced temperature. For the first time, temperature history of a nuclear ground glass is estimated from Zr diffusion profiles from decomposing zircon grain.

Keywords: nuclear fallout; nuclear melt glass; autoradiography; Semipalatinsk test site; zircon decomposition; high-temperature metamorphism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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