Sorption properties of rocks on the territory of the former Semipalatinsk test site

Abstract

The ability of granite and diorite, which are the most abundant rocks on the territory of the Semipalatinsk test site, to take up ¹³⁷Cs and ⁹⁰Sr present in tunnel waters of the Degelen mountain massif was studied in a laboratory. Experiments were performed both with simulated solutions and with real radioactive groundwater. The ¹³⁷Cs distribution coefficients were found for samples of typical granites, albitized granite, quartz porphyry, and diorite from the former Semipalatinsk test site. The ¹³⁷Cs distribution coefficient K _D (cm³ g⁻¹) was found to be n × 10³–n × 10⁴ for albitized granite, 60–80 for quartz porphyry, and 30–50 for granite. The ability of quartz porphyry and granite to take up ⁹⁰Sr from simulated solutions is characterized by the distribution coefficients K _D = 10–20 cm³ g⁻¹, and that of albitized granite, by K _D = 110−120 cm³ g⁻¹. The data obtained are required for predicting the migration of long-lived fission products from the nuclear explosion with underground waters from central zones of underground nuclear explosions in the former Semipalatinsk test site and for calculating the mass transfer in specific geologic media.