Sorption reversibility kinetics in the ternary system radionuclide–bentonite colloids/nanoparticles–granite fracture filling material

The kinetics of radionuclide desorption from bentonite colloids and subsequent sorption onto fracture filling material can influence colloid-facilitated radionuclide migration in ground water. To shed light on the significance of these issues batch-type experiments using a cocktail of strong and weak sorbing radionuclides as well as FEBEX bentonite colloids in the presence of fracture filling material from Grimsel (Switzerland) under Grimsel ground water conditions have been conducted. Results show that tri- and tetravalent radionuclides, ²³²Th(IV), ²⁴²Pu(IV) and ²⁴³Am(III) are clearly colloid associated in contrast to ²³³U(VI), ²³⁷Np(V) and ⁹⁹Tc(VII). Concentrations of colloid-borne ²³²Th(IV), ²⁴²Pu(IV) and ²⁴³Am(III) decrease after ∼100 h showing desorption from bentonite colloids while ²³³U(VI) and ⁹⁹Tc(VII) concentrations remain constant over the entire experimental time of 7500 h thus showing no interaction either to colloids or to the fracture filling material. ²³²Th(IV) and ²⁴²Pu(IV) data yield a slower dissociation from colloids compared to ²⁴³Am(III) indicating stronger RN–colloid interaction. In the case of ²³⁷Np(V), a decrease in concentration after ∼300 h is observed which can be explained either by slow reduction to Np(IV) and subsequent sorption to mineral surfaces in accordance with the evolution of pe/pH and/or by a slow sorption onto the fracture filling material. No influence of the different fracture filling material size fractions (0.25–0.5 mm, 0.5–1 mm and 1–2 mm) can be observed implying reaction independence of the mineral surface area and mineralogical composition. The driving force of the observed metal ion desorption from colloids is binding to fracture filling material surfaces being in excess of the available colloid surface area (76:1, 55:1 and 44:1 for the 0.25–0.5 mm, 0.5–1 mm and 1–2 mm size fraction of the FFM, respectively).     

Erosion of bentonite particles at the interface of a compacted bentonite and a fractured granite

Compacted bentonite has been considered as a candidate buffer material in the underground repository for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste. An erosion of bentonite particles caused by a groundwater flow at the interface of a compacted bentonite and a fractured granite was studied experimentally under various geochemical conditions. The experimental results showed that bentonite particles could be eroded from a compacted bentonite buffer by a flowing groundwater depending upon the contact time, the flow rate of the groundwater, and the geochemical parameters of the groundwater such as the pH and ionic strength.

A gel formation of the bentonite was observed to be a dominant process in the erosion of bentonite particles although an intrusion of bentonite into a rock fracture also contributed to the erosion. The concentration of the eroded bentonite particles eroded by a flowing groundwater was increased with an increasing flow rate of the groundwater. It was observed from the experiments that the erosion of the bentonite particles was considerably affected by the ionic strength of a groundwater although the effect of the pH was not great within the studied pH range from 7 to 10. An erosion of the bentonite particles in a natural groundwater was also observed to be considerable and the eroded bentonite particles are expected to be stable at the given groundwater condition.

The erosion of the bentonite particles by a flowing groundwater did not significantly reduce the physical stability and thus the performance of a compacted bentonite buffer. However, it is expected that an erosion of the bentonite particles due to a groundwater flow will generate bentonite particles in a given groundwater condition, which can serve as a source of the colloids facilitating radionuclide migration through rock fractures.     

北山花岗岩岩屑-膨润土混合材料导热性能研究

高放废物地质处置库缓冲/回填材料的重要作用之一是传导和散失高放废物衰变热,在膨润土中添加石英砂、石墨、花岗岩岩屑等导热性能较好的添加剂是提高缓冲/回填材料导热性能的主要方法。选用北山花岗岩岩屑为添加剂,与高庙子钠基膨润土GMZ01组成混合材料,制备不同含水率、不同密度的试样。使用Hot Disk TPS2500s热常数分析仪测定样品的导热系数,分析其与花岗岩岩屑含量、干密度、饱和度等参数的关系,并运用多种混合物热传导模型分析预测导热系数。研究结果表明,花岗岩岩屑能够有效提高缓冲/回填材料的导热性能,混合材料的导热系数分别与其饱和度、气体体积存在线性关系;Maxwell方程能够较好预测北山花岗岩岩屑-膨润土混合材料的导热系数。     

花岗岩单裂隙渗流传热特性试验

基于岩石裂隙渗流传热试验系统,以蒸馏水为换热工质,针对预制平滑裂隙与粗糙裂隙的花岗岩岩样,开展不同试验温度与水流条件下的单裂隙对流换热特性试验研究。试验结果表明：①同一温度水平下,对流换热系数的量值与流量呈正相关关系,但对流换热系数的增幅大于流量的增幅,随岩石基质温度的升高,相同流量水平下的对流换热系数呈增大趋势;②与平滑裂隙试验结果相比,粗糙裂隙面的对流换热强度有所提高,但增幅不大;③沿渗流路径,裂隙面局部对流换热强度的演化呈现多波峰的非线性特征,其中粗糙裂隙的非线性更加强烈。但二者均存在由进水口至出水口,换热强度逐渐减弱的特征。④努塞尔数与普朗特数1/3次方的商与雷诺数较好地满足幂指数关系,随着试验温度的升高,这种关系逐渐向线性转变。     

Friction on a granite to granite interface

Summary Direct shear tests were conducted on a granite to granite interface for the purpose of tracing the evolution of frictional resistance as the initially smooth and polished surface wears during continuing shearing displacement. At the moment when sliding on the freshly manufactured interface starts (first slip), the friction angle is very low, between 15° and 20°, but then it increases with displacement rapidly without reaching a peak in the first test (maximum displacement less than 25 mm). Upon repeated shearing of the same surface (without re-finishing), this process of displacement-strengthening continues until a total accumulated displacement of about one half of one meter is reached. At this point, the angle of friction would typically be between 42° and 44°.Once the residual surface was established, the effect of time-related parameters, the duration of stationary contact under constant normal and shear load and variable displacement rate, were investigated. The frictional resistance is shown to increase with decreasing displacement rate and to increase with the duration of stationary contact.At a normal load greater than about one half of one MPa, shear displacement on a residual surface proceeds in an unstable, stick-slip manner. The change from stable to unstable sliding, that can be effected by either decreasing the sliding velocity or increasing the normal load, is not instantaneous, but occurs over a finite amount of displacement.     

Investigation on gas migration behaviours in saturated compacted bentonite under rigid boundary conditions

Acta Geotechnica - To ensure the long-term safety and performance efficiency of a deep geological repository for disposal of high-level radioactive waste, understanding and assessment of gas...     

花岗岩粗糙单裂隙对流换热特性的数值模拟

在干热岩储层中开采地热能,往往需要对储层进行人工水力压裂以形成贯穿的换热通道。然而,热储中的对流换热对干热岩的采热率有重要影响,经过人工刺激的储层会形成几何形态各异的裂隙面,而裂隙粗糙程度的不同则会引起换热性能的显著差异。因此,选取4条Barton的经典岩石裂隙粗糙度曲线,在试验室条件下建立一个单裂隙对流换热模型。详细分析了花岗岩粗糙裂隙中热工质的换热特性。结果表明:局部对流换热系数沿着裂隙长度方向逐渐降低;节理粗糙系数JRC值越大,平均对流换热系数就越大,表明换热性能越好;局部对流换热系数的分布与JRC曲线的几何轮廓形态有很好的相关性,波峰波谷的变化趋势相一致;相对于温度而言,高流速对局部对流换热系数具有放大效应,流速越大,局部对流换热系数波动越大。     

A multiscale analysis of a fracture pattern in granite: A case study of the Tamariu granite,Catalunya, Spain

The in-depth investigation of fractured reservoirs is mainly limited to geophysical data that is in 3D and mostly on the scale of hundred meters to several kilometers or boreholes data that is in 1D and at meter to lower scale. The study of outcropping analogues of buried reservoirs is therefore a key tool for the characterization of the fault and fracture network at the reservoir scale. Tamariu granite has been the subject of this study with the aim to analyse faults and fractures from seismic to borehole scale. With the combination of satellite picture at different resolution and field study, we perform a statistical analysis focused of the length and orientation from infra centimeter crack to hundred kilometer length fault. On the whole range of scale studied, i.e. on 7 orders of magnitude, we have defined a length distribution following a power-law with an exponent a = −2. On the contrary to the length that can be modelled with a unique law, the orientation data shows a variation depending on the scale of observation: as the fault and fracture sets are suitable from the regional faults to the centimeter crack, the proportion of the sets varies at each scale of observation.     

A comparison of fracture transmissivities in granite water wells before and after hydrofracturing

In many regions of the world, crystalline bedrock aquifers are the only choice for groundwater supply. This is the case in northern Wisconsin, located in the upper Midwest of the continental United States. Here, groundwater flow to wells occurs only through fractures in the granitic basement. Although hydrofracturing of these wells is common and generally increases well yield, the precise mechanism for the increased yields remained unknown. Stressed and ambient flow logs were obtained in two 305-m-deep granitic boreholes in northern Wisconsin prior to hydrofracturing. From those logs, it was determined that nearly all of the groundwater flow to the boreholes occurred in less than 10 fractures in the upper 80 m, with no measureable contribution below that depth. Following hydrofracturing of the boreholes, stressed and ambient flow logs were again obtained. The transmissivity of the two boreholes increased by factors of 8.6 and 63 times. It was found that (1) the fractures that had contributed flow to the boreholes increased in transmissivity, (2) although the applied pressures were large enough in some instances to create new fractures, those new fractures did not increase the borehole transmissivities significantly, and (3) fractures without measureable flow before hydrofracturing remained without measureable flow. Hydrofracturing increases yield in granitic boreholes; however, that increase seems to only occur in fractures where flow was pre-existing and in the upper 80 m of the boreholes. These observations suggest that efforts to enhance yield in granitic aquifers should be focused on the upper part of the borehole.     

Experimental study on water-oil migration and accumulation in a 2D micro-model of carbonate fracture media

Many achievements have been made in experimental studies of hydrocarbon migration in the clastic reservoir. On the other hand, few migration experiments have been reported in the carbonate reservoir simulation realm. This article is a tentative experimental study on hydrocarbon migration and accumulation in the carbonate reservoir, which is a complex media that includes a pore system and fracture system. This microcosmic experiment simulates oil-water displacement using a real core model. Plentiful seepage phenomena were observed in the microcosmic experiments. Three kinds of pathways were found in the plane: parallel pathway, oblique-cross pathway and network pathway. Three types of flow were found: continuous flow, sectioning flow and their combination. Three driving fronts were found in the experiment: piston front, encircle front and impulse front. All these vary with many factors such as fluid pressure, oil saturation, fissure configuration and wettability, and these factors affect each other. The results show that the relation between the fluid pressure and volume of flow is a complex segmenting correlation, instead of a simple positive correlation like the pipe flow that follows Darcy’s law. The relation between fluid pressure and the speed of flow also follows the same correlation. Speed of flow relates to the angle and width of the fissure. Speed of flow in the wide fissure that has an acute angle with the pressure gradient is faster than that in a narrow fissure with a high angle with the pressure gradient. Translated from Geological Review, 2006, 52(4): 570–576 [译自: 地质 论评]     

A hydro-geochemical analysis of the saturation process with salt water of a bentonite crushed granite rock mixture in an engineered nuclear barrier

A MX-80 sodium bentonite crushed granite rock mixture is being saturated in the Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory managed by SKB (the Swedish Company of nuclear waste management) as part of the “Backfill and Plug Test Project”. The Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory is placed in the Swedish Island of Äspö, an underground full-scale laboratory where different testing construction procedures and handling techniques are being studied. The groundwater of Äspö has a variable salt concentration according to the zone considered. The added water during the mixing process of both materials had an average salt concentration of 6 g/L. However, backfill is being saturated with salt water containing higher salt content (up to 16 g/L, 50 / 50 of NaCl and CaCl₂ by mass) to speed up the saturation process. The mixture swelling capacity is small due to the low backfill bentonite content, but its activity is still large if compared with natural clayey soils. A coupled hydro-chemical approach was used to simulate the backfill hydration process, comparing the results with in situ measurements. An intrinsic permeability law, depending on salt concentration in the liquid phase, was incorporated into the model. The retention curve was also determined taking into account the effect of the chemical species on backfill behaviour. The simulation of the saturation process shows the importance of studying these problems with a HC (hydro-chemical) formulation, especially if long term behaviour of such mixtures is going to be reproduced.     

Reactive transport modelling of the long-term interactions of corrosion products and compacted bentonite in a HLW repository in granite: Uncertainties and relevance for performance assessment

Here we present a long-term nonisothermal reactive transport model for the interactions of the corrosion products of a carbon-steel canister and the compacted bentonite of the engineered barrier of a high-level radioactive waste repository in granite. Canister corrosion causes an increase in the pH and the concentration of dissolved Fe²⁺ of the bentonite porewater. Iron precipitates as magnetite and siderite and sorbs via cation exchange and surface complexation on weak sites. Magnetite precipitation reduces significantly the porosity of the bentonite near the canister. The thickness of the zone of reduced porosity is 7 cm at t = 1 Ma. This thickness increases significantly when the dependence of the corrosion rate on the chemical conditions is considered and decreases 3 cm when smectite dissolution and analcime precipitation are taken into account. Model results are not significantly sensitive to the thermal transient and the effect of temperature on the corrosion rate. The conclusions of our simulations are consistent for the most part with those reported by others for engineered barrier systems at similar chemical conditions.     

Experimental investigation of contaminant migration in filled fracture

Experiment equipments involved in the single tube fracture and double tube fracture models are designed to research the characteristics of groundwater flow and solute transport in filled fracture. During the experiment, the state of groundwater flow can be characterized as linear flow, and satisfies Darcy’s law. Therefore, based on the pipe flow of hydraulics and Darcy’s law, the flow rate and water flow velocity can be calculated. Also, dispersion parameters were calculated with the fitting of observed data and analytical solution in the single tube fracture model. Furthermore, effects of some factors on solute transport are involved in the double tube fracture model, and length of branch fracture, particles’ diameter and flow rate in water inlet have been discussed. Results show that the arrival time of concentration peak value in the single tube fracture model is faster than that in the double tube fracture model, and two concentration peak values exist in the double tube fracture model. Arrival time of concentration peak value is faster with the increase of branch fracture length. Furthermore, if the branch fracture is longer, arrival time of the first concentration peak value is faster, while arrival time of the second concentration peak value is slower, relative to short branch fracture.     

Gas migration behavior in saturated bentonite under flexible conditions with consideration of temperature effects

Acta Geotechnica - Investigation of thermal effects on gas migration behavior in saturated bentonite materials is of great significance for the assessment of long-term safety and performance...     

Granite fracture index to check suitability of granite outcrops for quarrying

A correct knowledge of fracture patterns previous to quarrying is important for economical exploitation. This work comprises the general characterization of the discontinuities of 10 granite rock masses in NE Portugal. During the study some discontinuity characteristics such as orientation, persistence, aperture, trace length and spacing were evaluated. The differences in the characteristics of the selected granites were described, and the most important exploration factors were identified. In the granites studied, most of the joints are oriented from N10°E to N50°E, which is compatible with the regional fracture pattern. Concerning joint termination, the XX type is common, while the RR type is rare; the persistence index ranges from 3.5% to 25.4%. Closed joints are predominant in the granites studied (> 72.4%), and openings of the others are about 1–2 mm as a result of superficial displacement of the granite blocks. The percentage of filled joints, usually by quartz and pegmatite, is different from one granite to another, but most are < 20%. The average joint length ranges from 11.1 m in post-tectonics granites to 4.6 m in syntectonic granites. Joint spacing varies from 0.98 to 2.8 m with higher values in post-tectonic granites. Joint-space distributions of the granites studied are close to log-normal and exponential distributions. Volumetric joint count (Jv) ranges from 0.8 to 2.1 joints/m³ and is used for categorizing the places of each granite. The relationships between Jv and other joint characteristics, such as length, spacing and number of joint sets, were investigated. A Granite Fracturing Index (GFI) is introduced, computed on the basis of volumetric joint count, number of joint sets and true joint spacing. The GFI classification of studied places allows us evaluate the suitability for profitable exploitation.     

Interaction of bentonite colloids with Cs, Eu, Th and U in presence of humic acid: A flow field-flow fractionation study

The interaction of Cs(I), Eu(III), Th(IV) and U(VI) with montmorillonite colloids was investigated in natural Grimsel Test Site groundwater over a 3 years period. The asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation combined with various detectors was applied to study size variations of colloids and to monitor colloid association of trace metals. The colloids suspended directly in the low ionic strength (I), slightly alkaline granitic groundwater (I = 10⁻³ mol/L, pH 9.6) showed a gradual agglomeration with a size distribution shift from initially 10-200 nm to 50-400 nm within over 3 years. The Ca²⁺ concentration of 2.1 × 10⁻⁴ mol/L in the ground water is believed to be responsible for the slow agglomeration due to Ca²⁺ ion exchange against Li⁺ and Na⁺ at the permanently charged basal clay planes. Furthermore, the Ca²⁺ concentration lies close to the critical coagulation concentration (CCC) of 10⁻³ mol L⁻¹ for clay colloids. Slow destabilization may delimit clay colloid migration in this specific groundwater over long time scales. Eu(III) and Th(IV) are found predominantly bound to clay colloids, while U(VI) prevails as the UO₂(OH)₃⁻ complex and Cs(I) remains mainly as aquo ion under our experimental conditions. Speciation calculations qualitatively represent the experimental data. A focus was set on the reversibility of metal ion-colloid binding. Addition of humic acid as a competing ligand induces rapid metal ion dissociation from clay colloids in the case of Eu(III) even after previous aging for about 3 years. Interestingly only partial dissociation occurs in the case of Th(IV). Experiments and calculations prove that the humate complexes dominate the speciation of all metal ions under given conditions. The partial irreversibility of clay bound Th(IV) is presently not understood but might play an important role for the colloid-mediated transport of polyvalent actinides over wide distances in natural groundwater.     

An experimental study on the effects of microbes on the migration and accumulation of REE in the weathering crust of granite

Microbes were cultured and identified from the saples collected at various depths in 4 weathering profiles of REE-bearing granites in Gonghe,Guangdong,The microbes were found existing at the depth of 0-5m in all the profiles.The main microbes include coccus (Staphylococcus,Streptococcus),bacillus(Bacillus,Clostridium and Escherichia Coli),actinmyces and fungi(Saccharomycete,Penicillium,Fusarium,Aspergillus Aiger and Mucor),The number of colonies decreases downwards in the profiles.Experimental studies show that all the microbes used in the experiment can accelerate downward migation of REE in the experimental tubes.,The ability to accelerate the migration of REE decreases in a sequence of fungi→actinomyces→acillus→coccus.The microbes can change the modes of occurrence of REE in the weathering crust.The coccus,bacillus and actinomyces can increase the amounts of REE in ion state,whereas the fungi have a stronger ability to from organic compounding REE and accumulate REE than the bacteria do.     

The Variscan Millares granite (central Pyrenees): Pluton emplacement in a T fracture of a dextral shear zone

This work deals with the magnetic susceptibility and its anisotropy (AMS) in the Variscan Millares pluton in the Central Pyrenees. The zonation of low-field magnetic susceptibility is consistent with the concentric arrangement of rock-types, with more basic compositions at the external areas. Magnetic foliations defined from AMS strike NE-SW and dip gently towards the NW. Magnetic foliations are mainly perpendicular and oblique to the elongation of the pluton in map view (NW-SE) and show a concentric pattern at the central part, where the more acid rocks crop out. Magnetic lineations are scattered between NW-SE and NE-SW and plunge shallowly to the N. In map view magnetic lineations are distributed in domains normal to the elongation of the pluton. The contours of P' (degree of magnetic anisotropy) are oriented NE-SW and bands of oblate and prolate ellipsoids alternate perpendicular to the elongation of the pluton in map view. P' is between 1.009 and 1.055 in 93% of the specimens. Such low values are currently recorded in granites having magmatic fabrics and for which the anisotropy is mainly carried by biotite. The attitude of the magnetic foliation and the magnetic lineation, the geometry of the pluton, and their relationship with the host-rock structure suggest an intrusion contemporary with a transpressional regime, syntectonic with the late stages of the Variscan orogeny.