Carol J. Bruton

The evolution of volcano-hosted geothermal systems based on deep wells from Karaha-Telaga Bodas, Indonesia

In late Mesozoic time, the southern Cordilleran foreland basin was bounded on the west by the Sevier thrust belt and on the south by the Mogollon highlands. Paleocurrent indicators in fluvial and fluviodeltaic strata imply sediment delivery into the basin from both tectonic features. Ages of detrital zircons in sandstones of the basin provide insights into the nature of the sediment sources. Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous fluvial strata were deposited as sediment blankets across the width of the basin but Upper Cretaceous marginal-marine facies were restricted to the basin margin, with marine facies in the basin interior. Most Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous fluvial sandstones contain heterogeneous age populations of Precambrian and Paleozoic detrital zircons largely recycled from Jurassic eolianites uplifted within the Sevier thrust belt or antecedent highlands, and exposed as sedimentary cover over the Mogollon highlands, with only minor contributions of Mesozoic zircon grains from the Cordilleran magmatic arc along the continental margin. Sources in Yavapai-Mazatzal Proterozoic basement intruded by anorogenic Mesoproterozoic plutons along the Mogollon highlands were significant for the Westwater Canyon Member of the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation and for early Upper Cretaceous (Turonian) fluviodeltaic depositional systems, in which arc-derived Cordilleran zircon grains are more abundant than in older and younger units composed dominantly of recycled detritus. Detrital zircons confirm that the Salt Wash and Westwater Canyon Members of the Morrison Formation formed separate foreland megafans of different provenance. Late Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) fluvial sandstones include units containing mostly recycled sand lacking arc-derived grains in the Sevier foredeep adjacent to the Sevier thrust front, and units derived from both Yavapai-Mazatzal basement and the Cordilleran arc farther east, with some mingling of sand from both sources at selected horizons within the Sevier foredeep. Evidence for longitudinal as well as transverse delivery of sediment to the foreland basin shows that paleogeographic and isostatic analyses of thrust-belt erosion, sediment loads, and basin subsidence in foreland systems need to allow for derivation of foreland sediment in significant volumes from sources lying outside adjacent thrust belts.

Cement minerals at elevated temperature: Thermodynamic and structural characteristics

Large quantities of cementitious materials may be used in the construction of a potential nuclear waste repository. Temperatures in the emplacement drifts may reach over 200 C owing to decay heat from radioactive waste for various ``extended-dry`` repository scenarios. Despite its potential significance, the mineralogic response of cement to elevated temperature is not well known. The chemistry of fluid introduced to the repository from cementitious materials can also have a significant impact on repository performance. The masses of water associated with the use of cementitious materials such as shotcrete, which includes both structural and pore water, can be sizable. Pore water may be driven out by heating, and structural water may be released through phase dehydration. An experimental and modeling program has been designed to elucidate the structural and thermodynamic response of cement minerals to elevated temperature. The components of the program include: (a) synthesis of hydrated Ca-silicates; (b) structural analysis of cement phases during heating and dehydration/rehydration; (c) mechanistic and thermodynamic descriptions of the hydration/dehydration behavior of hydrated Ca-silicates as a function of temperature, pressure and relative humidity; (d) study of naturally occurring hydrated Ca-silicates; and (e) measurements of thermodynamic data for hydrated Ca-silicates.

Simulation of Radionuclide Migration in Groundwater Away from an Underground Nuclear Test

Reactive transport simulations are being used to evaluate the nature and extent of radionuclide contamination within alluvium surrounding an underground nuclear test at the Nevada Test Site (NTS). Simulations are focused on determining the abundance and chemical nature of radionuclides that are introduced into groundwater, as well as the rate and extent of radionuclide migration and reaction in groundwater surrounding the working point of the test. Transport simulations based upon a streamline-based numerical model are used to illustrate the nature of radionuclide elution out of the near-field environment and illustrate the conceptual modeling process. The numerical approach allowed for relatively complex flow and chemical reactions to be considered in a computationally efficient manner. The results are particularly sensitive to the rate of melt glass dissolution, distribution of reactive minerals in the alluvium, and overall groundwater flow configuration. They provide a rational basis from which defensible migration assessments can proceed.

Geochemical Simulation of Dissolution of West Valley and Dnpf Glasses in J-13 Water at 90°C

Dissolution of West Valley and Defense Waste Product Facility (DWPF) glasses in J-13 water at 90°C at the candidate Yucca Mountain, Nevada repository was simulated using the EQ316 computer code package. The objectives of the study were to attempt to predict the concentrations of radionuclides and other glass components in solution resulting from glass dissolution, and to identify potential precipitates that sequester glass components. Modified projected inventories of 10,000 year-old Nest Valley and DNPF SRL-165 frit glasses were used as starting glass compositions. J-13 water was considered to be representative of groundwater at Yucca Mountain. A total of 10 grams of each glass was assumed to dissolve congruently into a kilogram of J-13 water in a closed system. No inhibitions to precipitation, except for crystalline SiO 2 polymorphs, were assumed to exist. Radiolysis and materials interactions were not considered. Simulation results predict that radionuclides and other glass components precipitate predominantly in the form of oxides and hydroxides, together with carbonates, silicates and phosphates. Precipitates appear to be effective in limiting the concentrations of radionuclides and other elements in solution. The general compositional trends in precipitates and solution chemistry are the same in the West Valley and DMPF simulations, except for variations arising from differences in glass chemistry. Concentrations of elements released from glass increase until the solution reaches saturation with respect to solids that contain these elements. Elemental concentrations are then predicted to remain constant, increase or decrease depending on: 1) whether the reaction between the dominant aqueous species of the element in solution and its precipitate is pH and/or Eh-dependent; 2) whether the species distribution of the element in solution changes significantly in response to changes in pH, Eh, or other factors; and 3) the competition with other phases for elements required to form the precipitate. pH increases from 7.3 to 9.8 and from 7.2 to 10 in the West Valley and DWPF simulations, respectively. Eh decreases abruptly from about 0.5 to 0.3 volts after dissolution of 3.4 and 5.8 grams of glass in the Nest Valley and DMPF simulations, respectively, because of depletion of dissolved oxygen in solution. Complexing of aqueous species has a significant impact on radionuclide concentrations in solution; predicted concentrations of U in solution, for example, are controlled by the presence or absence of P in solution because H 2 PO 4 is an extremely effective complexing agent for U.

Field-Based Tests of Geochemical Modeling Codes: New Zealand Hydrothermal Systems

Hydrothermal systems in the Taupo Volcanic Zone, North Island, New Zealand are being used as field-based modeling exercises for the EQ3/6 geochemical modeling code package. Comparisons of the observed state and evolution of the hydrothermal systems with predictions of fluid-solid equilibria made using geochemical modeling codes will determine how the codes can be used to predict the chemical and mineralogical response of the environment to nuclear waste emplacement. Field-based exercises allow us to test the models on time scales unattainable in the laboratory. Preliminary predictions of mineral assemblages in equilibrium with fluids sampled from wells in the Wairakei and Kawerau geothermal field suggest that affinity-temperature diagrams must be used in conjunction with EQ6 to minimize the effect of uncertainties in thermodynamic and kinetic data on code predictions.

Geothermal areas as analogues to chemical processes in the near-field and altered zone of the potential Yucca Mountain, Nevada repository

The need to bound system performance of the potential Yucca Mountain repository for thousands of years after emplacement of high-level nuclear waste requires the use of computer codes. The use of such codes to produce reliable bounds over such long time periods must be tested using long-lived natural and historical systems as analogues. The geothermal systems of the Taupo Volcanic Zone (TVZ) in New Zealand were selected as the site most amenable to study. The rocks of the TVZ are silicic volcanics that are similar in composition to Yucca Mountain. The area has been subjected to temperatures of 25 to 300 C which have produced a variety of secondary minerals similar to those anticipated at Yucca Mountain. The availability of rocks, fluids and fabricated materials for sampling is excellent because of widespread exploitation of the systems for geothermal power. Current work has focused on testing the ability of the EQ3/6 code and thermodynamic data base to describe mineral-fluid relations at elevated temperatures. Welfare starting long-term dissolution/corrosion tests of rocks, minerals and manufactured materials in natural thermal features in order to compare laboratory rates with field-derived rates. Available field data on rates of silica precipitation from heated fluids have been analyzed and compared to laboratory rates. New sets of precipitation experiments are being planned. The microbially influenced degradation of concrete in the Broadlands-Ohaaki geothermal field is being characterized. The authors will continue to work on these projects in FY 1996 and expand to include the study of naturally occurring uranium and thorium series radionuclides, as a prelude to studying radionuclide migration in heated silicic volcanic rocks. 32 refs.