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Piezonuclear Fission Reactions in Rocks: Evidences from Microchemical Analysis, Neutron Emission, and Geological Transformation

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Abstract

Neutron emission measurements, by means of He3 devices and bubble detectors, were performed during three different kinds of compression tests on brittle rocks: (1) under monotonic displacement control, (2) under cyclic loading, and (3) by ultrasonic vibration. The material used for the tests was Luserna Stone. Since the analyzed material contains iron, our conjecture is that piezonuclear reactions involving fission of iron into aluminum, or into magnesium and silicon, should have occurred during compression damage and failure. This hypothesis is confirmed by the direct evidence of energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy tests conducted on Luserna Stone specimens. It is also interesting to emphasize that the anomalous chemical balances of the major events that have affected the geomechanical and geochemical evolution of the Earth’s crust should be considered as an indirect evidence of the piezonuclear fission reactions considered above.

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Acknowledgments

The financial support provided by the Regione Piemonte (Italy) RE-FRESCOS Project is gratefully acknowledged. Special thanks are due to R. Sandrone and A. Chiodoni of the Politecnico di Torino for their kind collaboration in the EDS analysis. The authors wish to thank also D. Madonna Ripa and A. Troia from the National Research Institute of Metrology—INRIM, for their indispensable assistance during the ultrasonic tests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Structural Engineering and Geotechnics, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129, Turin, Italy

    A. Carpinteri, G. Lacidogna, A. Manuello & O. Borla

  2. Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, INFN sez. Torino Via Pietro Giuria 1, 10125, Turin, Italy

    O. Borla

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  1. A. Carpinteri
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  2. G. Lacidogna
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  3. A. Manuello
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  4. O. Borla
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Correspondence to A. Carpinteri.

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Carpinteri, A., Lacidogna, G., Manuello, A. et al. Piezonuclear Fission Reactions in Rocks: Evidences from Microchemical Analysis, Neutron Emission, and Geological Transformation. Rock Mech Rock Eng 45, 445–459 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-011-0217-7

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