Stable hydrogen and oxygen isotope analyses of geological samples using a thermal conversion elemental analyzer-isotope ratio mass spectrometer at Tono Geoscience Center

Yamamoto, Yusuke*; Watanabe, Takahiro; Niwa, Masakazu; Shimada, Koji

JAEA-Testing 2023-003, 67 Pages, 2024/02

JAEA-Testing-2023-003.pdf:4.63MB

A long-term geosphere stability for geological disposal is evaluated by the past geological environmental changes and modern conditions. Stable hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratios (D, O) of geological samples are useful information to estimate the past environmental changes and modern conditions. Recently, the thermal conversion elemental analyzer and isotope ratio mass spectrometer (TC-EA/IRMS) were installed in the Tono Geoscience Center for D and O measurements of geological samples. In this study, we reported analytical methods of D and O using international standard reference materials. In addition, evaluation tests of uncertainty by repeated analyses of the standards were performed using the TC-EA/IRMS. Furthermore, the D and O analyses by the TC- EA/IRMS were also applied to fault rock samples.

Simple and rapid method for geochemically discriminating of paleotsunami deposits using a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry system; Application to boring cores from the Shizuoka plain on the Pacific coast of central Japan

Watanabe, Takahiro; Yamamoto, Yusuke; Kitamura, Akihisa*

Chigaku Zasshi, 132(5), p.417 - 437, 2023/10

https://doi.org/10.5026/jgeography.132.417

To improve a geochemical discrimination method of paleotsunami deposit, quantitative analysis of major and trace elements in boring cores from the Shizuoka plain on the Pacific coast of middle Japan was performed using a portable energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry system (portable XRF). Geochemical approaches by the portable XRF contribute to study of the simple and rapid methods for detecting paleotsunami deposits. Most of our quantitative data by portable XRF were good agreement with reported values measured by stationary-type energy dispersive XRF in previous studies. Therefore, the portable XRF can be applied to geochemical study in the samples from Shizuoka plain in our case.

Status report of JAEA-AMS-TONO; Research and technical development in the last four years

Kokubu, Yoko; Fujita, Natsuko; Watanabe, Takahiro; Matsubara, Akihiro; Ishizaka, Chika; Miyake, Masayasu*; Nishio, Tomohiro*; Kato, Motohisa*; Ogawa, Yumi*; Ishii, Masahiro*; et al.

Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B, 539, p.68 - 72, 2023/06

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nimb.2023.03.005

The JAEA-AMS-TONO facility at the Tono Geoscience Center, JAEA has an accelerator mass spectrometer (JAEA-AMS-TONO-5MV). The spectrometer enabled us to use a multi-nuclide AMS of carbon-14 (C), beryllium-10, aluminium-26 and iodine-129, and we have recently been proceeding test measurement of chlorine-36. In response to an increase of samples, we installed a state-of-the-art multi-nuclide AMS with a 300 kV Tandetron accelerator in 2020. Recently, we are driving the development of techniques of isobar separation in AMS and of sample preparation. Ion channeling is applied to remove isobaric interference and we are building a prototype AMS based on this technique for downsizing of AMS. The small sample graphitization for C has been attempted using an automated graphitization equipment equipped with an elemental analyzer.

Present status of the JAEA-AMS-TONO (2021)

Matsubara, Akihiro*; Fujita, Natsuko; Miyake, Masayasu; Ishii, Masahiro*; Watanabe, Takahiro; Kokubu, Yoko; Nishio, Tomohiro*; Ogawa, Yumi; Jinno, Satoshi; Kimura, Kenji; et al.

JAEA-Conf 2022-002, p.55 - 62, 2023/03

https://doi.org/10.11484/jaea-conf-2022-002

We report the present status of the JAEA-AMS-TONO. Particularly, the destructions of varistors used in the beamline equipment will be presented. The cause of the destruction as well as implementation of the safety measures are mentioned.

Research plan on geosphere stability for long-term isolation of radioactive waste (Scientific program for fiscal year 2022)

Sasao, Eiji; Ishimaru, Tsuneari; Niwa, Masakazu; Shimada, Akiomi; Shimada, Koji; Watanabe, Takahiro; Sueoka, Shigeru; Yokoyama, Tatsunori; Fujita, Natsuko; Ogita, Yasuhiro; et al.

JAEA-Review 2022-022, 29 Pages, 2022/09

JAEA-Review-2022-022.pdf:0.97MB

This report is a plan of research and development (R&D) on geosphere stability for long-term isolation of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) in Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), in fiscal year 2022. The objectives and contents in fiscal year 2022 are described in detail based on the JAEA 4th Medium- and Long-term Plan (fiscal years 2022-2028). In addition, the background of this research is described from the necessity and the significance for site investigation and safety assessment, and the past progress. The plan framework is structured into the following categories: (1) Development and systematization of investigation techniques, (2) Development of models for long-term estimation and effective assessment, (3) Development of dating techniques

Geochemical and grain composition analysis of embankment and debris flow deposits in the Izusan area, Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan

Kitamura, Akihisa*; Okazaki, Sota*; Kondo, Mitsuru*; Watanabe, Takahiro; Nakanishi, Toshimichi*; Hori, Rie*; Ikeda, Masayuki*; Ichimura, Koji; Nakagawa, Yuki; Mori, Hideki*

Shizuoka Daigaku Chikyu Kagaku Kenkyu Hokoku, (49), p.73 - 86, 2022/07

https://doi.org/10.51053/shizuoka.49.0_73

On July 3 2021, a debris flow caused by a landslide from a landfill occurred along the Aizome River in the Izusan area of Atami City, Shizuoka. In this study, debris flow deposits and soil samples were characterized in terms of their sedimentology and geochemically analyzed.

Late-Holocene salinity changes in Lake Ogawara, Pacific coast of northeast Japan, related to sea-level fall inferred from sedimentary geochemical signatures

Nara, Fumiko*; Watanabe, Takahiro; Matsunaka, Tetsuya*; Yamasaki, Shinichi*; Tsuchiya, Noriyoshi*; Seto, Koji*; Yamada, Kazuyoshi*; Yasuda, Yoshinori*

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 592, p.110907_1 - 110907_11, 2022/04

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2022.110907

Radiocarbon dating, tephrochronology, and geochemical signatures such as bromine (Br), iodine (I), total sulfur (TS), total organic carbon (TOC), and total nitrogen (TN) in a continuous sediment core (OG12-2) were applied to estimate past salinity change on the Lake Ogawara, Pacific coast of northeast Japan. Since the Lake Ogawara was the inner bay of the Pacific Ocean and became the brackish lake in the late Holocene, clarifying the past salinity change on the lake Ogawara could give us important insight into the past sea level changes of the Pacific Ocean. The core OG12-2 has two tephra layers, the Towada eruption and the Changbaishan eruption (B-Tm: AD 946). The age model for the core OG12-2 was established using the radiocarbon measurements of the plant residues in the core, also was constrained by the B-Tm tephra. Depletions of marine-derived elements (Br, I, and TS), from 88.4 to 64.2 mg/kg, 20.0 to 14.1 mg/kg, and 3.1 to 1.1 mass %, respectively, were observed in the layers with 2200-2000 cal BP. These results indicate paleosalinity changes from saline (inner bay) to brackish conditions within Lake Ogawara caused by sea level fluctuations during the late Holocene.

Quantitative analyses of major and trace elements in geological samples using a portable energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer at Tono Geoscience Center; An Analytical method of whole-rock geochemical composition by 3-mm diameter small spot measurements

Yamamoto, Yusuke; Watanabe, Takahiro; Niwa, Masakazu; Shimada, Koji

JAEA-Testing 2021-003, 58 Pages, 2022/01

JAEA-Testing-2021-003.pdf:6.82MB

A long term geosphere stability for geological disposal is evaluated by the past geological environmental changes and modern conditions. Whole-rock geochemical compositions in rocks and sediments are useful information to estimate the past environmental changes and modern conditions. Recently, the portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) were installed in the Tono Geoscience Center for rapid and simple whole-rock geochemical analyses (original specification; 8 mm-diameter analysis). In particular, the 3 mm-diameter small spot analysis using the portable XRF was performed for quantitative analyses of small-weight geological samples. In this study, we reported a quantitative method for major and trace elements using calibration curves by standard reference materials, as well as evaluation tests of uncertainty by repeated analyses of the standards measured by the portable XRF (3 mm-diameter small spot analysis). Furthermore, the small spot quantitative analyses by the portable XRF were also applied to fault rock samples that have been analyzed in previous studies.

I/I and C records in a modern coral from Rowley Shoals off northwestern Australia reflect the 20th-century human nuclear activities and ocean/atmosphere circulations

Mitsuguchi, Takehiro; Okabe, Nobuaki*; Yokoyama, Yusuke*; Yoneda, Minoru*; Shibata, Yasuyuki*; Fujita, Natsuko; Watanabe, Takahiro; Kokubu, Yoko

Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 235-236, p.106593_1 - 106593_10, 2021/09

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2021.106593

For a contribution to developing the usage of iodine-129 (I) as a tracer of deep-seated fluid, I/I and C were measured for annual bands (AD 1931-1991) of a modern coral collected from Northwestern Australia; the measurements were performed using the JAEA-AMS-TONO-5MV for I/I and an AMS facility of the University of Tokyo for C. Results indicate that both I/I and C distinctly increase from 1950s. The C increase can be ascribed to atmospheric nuclear tests, while the I/I increase is due to nuclear-fuel reprocessing as well as atmospheric nuclear tests. These results are in good agreement with previous studies, indicating that the I/I measurement by JAEA-AMS-TONO-5MV has been further developed.

Characteristics in trace elements compositions of tephras (B-Tm and To-a) for identification tools

Nara, Fumiko*; Yokoyama, Tatsunori; Yamasaki, Shinichi*; Minami, Masayo*; Asahara, Yoshihiro*; Watanabe, Takahiro; Yamada, Kazuyoshi*; Tsuchiya, Noriyoshi*; Yasuda, Yoshinori*

Geochemical Journal, 55(3), p.117 - 133, 2021/00

https://doi.org/10.2343/geochemj.2.0619

The absolute date of the Millennium Eruption (ME) of Changbaishan Volcano is widely recognized as AD 946. The Baegdosan-Tomakomai (B-Tm) tephra dispersed during the ME is a robust-age key bed. In order to identify the tephra, refractive index and major-element compositions of volcanic glass shards are conventionally used. However, trace-element analysis has been rarely carried out, especially for rare-earth elements (REEs) and for tephra layer bulk sediments. Here we present the datasets of major- and trace-element compositions datasets for the glass shards and bulk sediments of the B-Tm and Towada caldera eruptions (To-a) tephra deposits from the Lake Ogawara sediment core, Tohoku region, northern Japan. The depth profiles of the major and trace elements show the significant peaks for the KO and some trace elements (Zn, Rb, Zr, Nb, Sn, Y, La, Ce, Nd, Th, and U) at the B-Tm tephra layer in the Lake Ogawara sediment core, but no peaks of these elements at the To-a tephra layer. High concentrations of the trace elements in the B-Tm tephra layer were observed in individual glass shards as well as in the bulk sediment. These concentrations are highlighted by the elemental abundance pattern normalized by the crustal abundance. The elemental pattern in individual glass shards from other Japanese tephras showed significant differences from those of the B-Tm tephra, especially in REEs compositions. The trace-element compositions of the glass shards and bulk sediment show strong advantages for distinguishing the B-Tm tephra from other Japanese tephras.