Assessment report of research and development activities in FY2021; Activity of "Research and Development on Geological Disposal of High-level Radioactive Waste" (Post- and pre-review report)

Geological Disposal Research and Development Department

JAEA-Evaluation 2022-007, 81 Pages, 2022/11

JAEA-Evaluation-2022-007.pdf:2.06MB
JAEA-Evaluation-2022-007-appendix(CD-ROM).zip:37.06MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) consulted the advisory committee, "Evaluation Committee on Research and Development (R&D) Activities for Geological Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Waste", for post- and pre-review assessment of R&D activities on high-level radioactive waste disposal in accordance with "General Guideline for the Evaluation of Government Research and Development (R&D) Activities" by the Cabinet Office, Government of Japan, "Guideline for Evaluation of R&D in Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology" and JAEA's "Regulation on Conduct for Evaluation of R&D Activities". In response to JAEA's request, the Committee reviewed mainly the progress of the R&D project on geological disposal, the relevance of the project outcome and the efficiency of the project implementation during the period of the current and next plan. This report summarizes the results of the assessment by the Committee with the Committee report attached.

Update on the regional-scale 3D geological model in the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory Project

Sakai, Toshihiro; Ishii, Eiichi

JAEA-Data/Code 2021-009, 13 Pages, 2021/08

JAEA-Data-Code-2021-009.pdf:1.9MB
JAEA-Data-Code-2021-009-appendix(CD-ROM).zip:42.79MB

Japan Atomic Energy Agency is performing the Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory Project, which includes a scientific study of the deep geological environment as a basis of research and development for the geological disposal of high level radioactive wastes, in order to establish comprehensive techniques for the investigation, analysis and assessment of the deep geological environment in the sedimentary rock. The numerical data of 3D geological model in regional-scale was compiled in 2019 as JAEA-Data/Code 2019-007, and then this report updates a part of the numerical data of 3D geological model around the underground facilities.

Crystallization processes of quartz in a granitic magma; Cathodoluminescence zonation pattern controlled by temperature and titanium diffusivity

Yuguchi, Takashi*; Ogita, Yasuhiro; Kato, Takenori*; Yokota, Rintaro*; Sasao, Eiji; Nishiyama, Tadao*

Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 192, p.104289_1 - 104289_16, 2020/05

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jseaes.2020.104289

Quartz from a granitic pluton is found to have formed through sequential growth events under different mechanisms and crystallization temperatures, which can provide new insights into magmatic processes of granitic magmas that were eventually consolidified into plutons. The events were identified using (1) the description of crystal shape and occurrence, (2) the study of the internal structure with cathodoluminescence (CL), and (3) derivation of the crystallization temperatures based on TitaniQ thermometry. The magmatic quartz crystals from the Toki granite, central Japan, are characterized as having the following internal structures: oscillatory zonation, no-oscillatory zonation with luminescence graduation (gradational zonation), and heterogeneous CL. The quartz crystals with oscillatory zonation were formed in the temperature range of about 800 C to below 700 C, which is referred to as oscillatory zoning temperature (OZT) conditions. The CL zonation pattern was controlled by the temperature conditions and titanium diffusivity in the melt (magma). The crystallization process of quartz within the Toki granite reveals the cooling processes of the granitic pluton; the lithofacies with a high frequency of oscillatory-zoned quartz underwent slower cooling under the OZT conditions than those in other lithofacies.

Dating of geological samples

Kokubu, Yoko

ISEE Newsletter, 9, P. 4, 2020/01

http://www.isee.nagoya-u.ac.jp/publication.html

no abstracts in English

Diagrams for finite strain equations and rough estimation of shear strain

Shimada, Koji

Chishitsu Gijutsu, (9), p.25 - 40, 2019/09

Today many collaborations are there in Earth-scientific research and development. Structural geology can serve crucial information on tectonic strain at sampling point in Japan, belonging to the circum-Pacific orogenic belt. Visualize of strain estimation would be effective during field geological survey and for better understanding for non-specialist on structural geology. Illustrations decoding mathematical expressions of strain estimation methods are presented here.

Variable-box segmentation of a three-dimensional point cloud for automatic estimation of discontinuities in rock mass

Matsukawa, Shun*; Itakura, Kenichi*; Hayano, Akira; Suzuki, Yukinori*

Journal of MMIJ, 133(11), p.256 - 263, 2017/11

https://doi.org/10.2473/journalofmmij.133.256

LIDAR detects a rock mass surface configurations as a point cloud. DiAna (Discontinuity Analysis) is a Matlab tool which was developed for geo-structural analysis of rock mass discontinuities. DiAna segments a point cloud into bounding boxes to estimate the surface of a rock mass. However, an expert's skills necessary to determine the appropriate size of the bounding boxes for DiAna. We developed the VBS (Variable-Box Segmentation) algorithm to determine the appropriate box size depending on the location of the point cloud and to estimate the surface of a rock mass. The performance of the VBS algorithms was evaluated by comparison with the DiAna algorithm. The results of comparison showed that the VBS algorithm estimated planes more accurately for the reference planes than the DiAna algorithm. Therefore, the VBS algorithm determines appropriate box sizes automatically depending on the location of the point cloud and estimates the surface appropriately.

Synthesized research report in the second mid-term research phase, Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory Project, Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory Project and Geo-stability Project (Translated document)

Hama, Katsuhiro; Sasao, Eiji; Iwatsuki, Teruki; Onoe, Hironori; Sato, Toshinori; Fujita, Tomoo; Sasamoto, Hiroshi; Matsuoka, Toshiyuki; Takeda, Masaki; Aoyagi, Kazuhei; et al.

JAEA-Review 2016-014, 274 Pages, 2016/08

JAEA-Review-2016-014.pdf:44.45MB

We synthesized the research results from the Mizunami/Horonobe Underground Research Laboratories (URLs) and geo-stability projects in the second midterm research phase. This report can be used as a technical basis for the Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan/Regulator at each decision point from siting to beginning of disposal (Principal Investigation to Detailed Investigation Phase).

Geological mapping on the shafts and galleries walls on the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory project

Tsuruta, Tadahiko; Sasao, Eiji

Oyo Chishitsu, 56(6), p.298 - 307, 2016/02

https://doi.org/10.5110/jjseg.56.298

Japan Atomic Agency (JAEA) are performing Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory project (MIU project), which is a broad scientific study of the deep geological environment as a basis of research and development for geological disposal of nuclear wastes. Geological investigations, reflection seismic surveys, borehole drilling, etc., are carried out to understand the distribution and properties of important geological structures (permeable fractures, faults, etc). This report summarizes specifications and data characteristic of geological mapping on the shafts and gallery wall, and describes contributions to developments of geological model based on the results of geological mapping.

Study for development of the methodology for multi-scale hydrogeological modeling taking into account hydraulic heterogeneity caused by fracture network

Saegusa, Hiromitsu; Onoe, Hironori; Ishibashi, Masayuki; Tanaka, Tatsuya*; Abumi, Kensho*; Hashimoto, Shuji*; Bruines, P.*

JAEA-Research 2015-011, 59 Pages, 2015/10

JAEA-Research-2015-011.pdf:49.44MB

It is important to evaluate groundwater flow characteristics on several spatial scales for assessment of long-term safety on geological disposal of high-level radioactive wastes. An estimation of hydraulic heterogeneity caused by fracture network is significant for evaluation of the groundwater flow characteristics in the region of tens of meters square. Heterogeneity of equivalent hydraulic properties is needed to estimate for evaluation of the groundwater flow characteristics in the region of several km square. In order to develop the methodology for multi-scale hydrogeological modeling taking into account the hydraulic heterogeneity, spatial distribution of fractures and their hydraulic properties have been modeled using discrete fracture network (DFN) model. Then, hydrogeological continuum model taking into account the hydraulic heterogeneity has been estimated based on the DFN model. Through this study, the methodology for multi-scale hydrogeological modeling according to type of investigation data has been proposed.

Study on geology on the Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory Project; Geology and geological structure at the -500m stage

Kawamoto, Koji; Kuboshima, Koji*; Murakami, Hiroaki; Ishibashi, Masayuki; Sasao, Eiji

JAEA-Research 2014-021, 30 Pages, 2014/11

JAEA-Research-2014-021.pdf:6.79MB

The MIU (Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory) Project has three overlapping phases, Surface-based investigation phase (Phase I), Construction phase (Phase II), and Operation phase (Phase III). Currently, the project is under Phase II and Phase III. One of Phase II goals is set up to develop and revise models of the geological environment using the investigation results obtained during excavation, and to determine and assess changes in the geological environment in response to excavation. This report aims at compiling results of study on geology and geological structure at the -500m Stage in the MIU construction site, investigated in the Phase II and provides the fundamental information on the geology and geological structure for future study and modeling of geological environment.