Discovery of Early Paleocene (Danian) tuff from the Yezo Group in the Yubari area, Hokkaido, Northeast Japan

Kubomi, Ko*; Nagata, Mitsuhiro; Ota, Hiroto*; Miyata, Kazunori*; Oto, Shigeru*

Chishitsugaku Zasshi (Internet), 129(1), p.453 - 460, 2023/09

https://doi.org/10.5575/geosoc.2023.0011

The Hakobuchi Formation in Hokkaido, NE Japan, consists of marine to terrestrial clastic rocks of the uppermost part of the Yezo Group, was previously interpreted to range from Early Campanian to Late Paleocene age, with a hiatus near the K/Pg boundary. No definitive evidence of the depositional age indicating Lower Paleocene (Danian) has been reported from the formation so far. We reported the LA-ICPMS zircon U-Pb dates of a tuff layer of the Hakobuchi Formation in the Yubari area. The weighted average date of the youngest cluster was 64.1 1.1 Ma (2), suggesting the depositional age of the formation is Danian. The result is the first radiometric evidence indicating that the Hakobuchi Formation, at least partly, is correlated with the Danian, and is essential to discuss the depositional age of the Hakobuchi Formation and geochronology of the Yezo Group.

Geochronological study of the Atokura Formation and contact igneous rocks in Shimonita-machi, Gunma Prefecture, central Japan

Bando, Koki*; Nagata, Mitsuhiro; Asahara, Yoshihiro*; Ishizaki, Yasuo*; Oto, Shigeru*

Shimonitamachi Shizenshikan Kenkyu Hokoku, (8), p.33 - 53, 2023/03

We studied the geochronology and geochemistry of the Cretaceous Atokura Formation called Atokura nappe and intrusive rocks in Shimonita, Gunma Prefecture. The depositional age of the Atokura Formation has not been determined whether it was the Early Cretaceous (Barremian) or Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Campanian). The youngest cluster dates obtained from 4 sandstone samples of the Atokura Formation are 182.8 Ma, 129.8 Ma, 123.7 Ma, and 115.1 Ma. Zircons from igneous rocks in the Atokura Formation yielded U-Pb ages of 123.2 Ma, and their zircons show Hf(t)=3.0 to 3.8. The depositional age of the Atokura Formation generally supported the Barremian, but younger zircon U-Pb date was obtained from one sample. The intrusive rocks are similar to the U-Pb dates and Hf isotopes of zircons obtained from Kitakami or Abukuma granitoids in NE Japan.

Attempts to detect thermal anomalies associated with slab-derived fluid activities based on low-temperature thermochronology

Sueoka, Shigeru; Iwano, Hideki*; Danhara, Toru*; Okamoto, Akira*; Tagami, Takahiro*

Fisshion, Torakku Nyusureta, (35), p.1 - 4, 2022/12

no abstracts in English

Hybrid process combining solvent extraction / low pressure loss extraction chromatography for a reasonable MA(III) recovery process

Sano, Yuichi; Sakamoto, Atsushi; Miyazaki, Yasunori; Watanabe, So; Morita, Keisuke; Emori, Tatsuya; Ban, Yasutoshi; Arai, Tsuyoshi*; Nakatani, Kiyoharu*; Matsuura, Haruaki*; et al.

Proceedings of International Conference on Nuclear Fuel Cycle; Sustainable Energy Beyond the Pandemic (GLOBAL 2022) (Internet), 4 Pages, 2022/07

We developed a hybrid MA(III) recovery process combining MA(III)+Ln(III) co-recovery flowsheet by solvent extraction with TBP and MA(III)/Ln(III) separation flowsheet by simulated moving bed chromatography using HONTA impregnated adsorbents with large particle size porous silica support.

Fe, Mn and U accumulations in naturally growing at the mill tailings pond; Iron plaque formation possibly related to root-endophytic bacteria producing siderophores

Nakamoto, Yukihiro*; Doyama, Kohei*; Haruma, Toshikatsu*; Lu, X.*; Tanaka, Kazuya; Kozai, Naofumi; Fukuyama, Kenjin; Fukushima, Shigeru; Ohara, Yoshiyuki; Yamaji, Keiko*

Minerals (Internet), 11(12), p.1337_1 - 1337_17, 2021/12

https://doi.org/10.3390/min11121337

Mine drainage is a vital water problem in the mining industry worldwide because of the heavy metal elements and low pH. Rhizofiltration using wetland plants is an appropriate method to remove heavy metals from the water via accumulation in the rhizosphere. is one of the candidate plants for this method because of metal accumulation, forming iron plaque around the roots. At the study site, which was the mill tailings pond in the Ningyo-toge uranium mine, has been naturally growing since 1998. The results showed that accumulated Fe, Mn, and U in the nodal roots without/with iron plaque compared with other plant tissues. Among the 837 bacterial colonies isolated from nodal roots, 88.6% showed siderophore production activities. Considering iron plaque formation around roots, we hypothesized that microbial siderophores might influence iron plaque formation because bacterial siderophores have catechol-like functional groups. The complex of catechol or other phenolics with Fe was precipitated due to the networks between Fe and phenolic derivatives. The experiment using bacterial products of root endophytes, such as spp. and spp., showed precipitation with Fe ions, and we confirmed that several spp. and spp. produced unidentified phenolic compounds. In conclusion, root-endophytic bacteria such as spp. and spp., isolated from metal-accumulating roots of , might influence iron plaque formation as the metal accumulation site. Iron plaque formation is related to tolerance in , and spp. and spp. might indirectly contribute to tolerance.

Research plan on geosphere stability for long-term isolation of radioactive waste (Scientific program for fiscal year 2021)

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

JAEA-Review 2021-012, 48 Pages, 2021/08

JAEA-Review-2021-012.pdf:1.64MB

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 2021. The objectives and contents in fiscal year 2021 are described in detail based on the JAEA 3rd Medium- and Long-term Plan (fiscal years 2015-2021). 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.

Status of LBE study and experimental plan at JAEA

Saito, Shigeru; Wan, T.*; Okubo, Nariaki; Obayashi, Hironari; Watanabe, Nao; Ohdaira, Naoya*; Kinoshita, Hidetaka; Yamaki, Kenichi*; Kita, Satoshi*; Yoshimoto, Hidemitsu*; et al.

JPS Conference Proceedings (Internet), 33, p.011041_1 - 011041_6, 2021/03

https://doi.org/10.7566/JPSCP.33.011041

An Accelerator Driven System (ADS) for waste transmutation investigated in JAEA employs lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) as a neutron production target material and coolant. The neutrons are to be produced via the spallation with 1.5 GeV proton beam injection. As materials irradiation data are important for ADS development, JAEA plans to construct an irradiation facility with LBE neutron production target in J-PARC. There are many technical issues on LBE for practical use. In JAEA, various R&Ds are being carried out. Concerning corrosion study, conditioning operation and functional tests of OLLOCHI started. Oxygen concentration control technology has also developing. In the large scale LBE loop experiment, the operation for steady state and transient experiments was performed by using IMMORTAL. In the area of instrument, development of ultrasonic flow meter and freeze seal valve are progressing as a key technology for the LBE loop system. Investigation of behavior of impurities in LBE, which is important for design of the irradiation facility, started. In this paper, the status of the LBE studies and experimental plan will be presented.

Solidification depth and crystallization age of the Shiaidani Granodiorite; Constraints to the average denudation rate of the Hida Range, central Japan

Kawakami, Tetsuo*; Sueoka, Shigeru; Yokoyama, Tatsunori; Kagami, Saya; King, G. E.*; Herman, F.*; Tsukamoto, Sumiko*; Tagami, Takahiro*

Island Arc, 30(1), p.e12414_1 - e12414_11, 2021/01

https://doi.org/10.1111/iar.12414

Study of charged particle activation analysis, 2; Determination of boron concentration in human blood samples

Ikebe, Yurie*; Oshima, Masumi*; Bamba, Shigeru*; Asai, Masato; Tsukada, Kazuaki; Sato, Tetsuya; Toyoshima, Atsushi*; Bi, C.*; Seto, Hirofumi*; Amano, Hikaru*; et al.

Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 164, p.109106_1 - 109106_7, 2020/10

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2020.109106

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a radiotherapy for the treatment of intractable cancer. In BNCT precise determination of B concentration in whole blood sample before neutron irradiation is crucial for control of the neutron irradiation time and the neutron dosimetry. We have applied the Charged Particle Activation Analysis (CPAA) to non-destructive and accurate determination of B concentration in whole blood sample. The experiment was performed at JAEA Tandem Accelerator using an 8 MeV proton beam. The 478 keV ray of Be produced in the B(p,)Be reaction was used to quantify the B, and rays of Co originating from the reaction with Fe in blood was used to normalize the -ray intensity. The results demonstrated that the present CPAA method can be applied to the determination of the B concentration in the blood sample.

Application of multiple -ray detection to long-lived radioactive nuclide determination in environmental samples

Oshima, Masumi*; Goto, Jun*; Haraga, Tomoko; Kin, Tadahiro*; Ikebe, Yurie*; Seto, Hirofumi*; Bamba, Shigeru*; Shinohara, Hirofumi*; Morimoto, Takao*; Isogai, Keisuke*

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 57(6), p.663 - 670, 2020/06

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2019.1710614

Gamma-gamma coincidence measurement utilized in -ray spectroscopy experiments is well known to be effective for the improvement of signal-to-noise ratio in a -ray spectrum. We study its applicability to determination of long-lived radioactive nuclides in environmental samples. The -ray simulation code Geant 4.10.2 was used. We took up 35 nuclides which need to be determined for the evaluation of fission product leakage at the nuclear accident in the Fukushima nuclear power plants. Among them five nuclides of Co, Nb, Cs, Eu and Eu can be the objectives of the multiple -ray detection method. The simulation results indicate that the signal-to-noise ratio can be improved by a factor between 9.8 and 283, and the detection limit by a factor between 2.7 and 8.5 relative to the singles measurement, implying that the method can be well applied to the determination of the long-lived radioactive nuclides.