Current status of Toki Geochronology Research Laboratory, Tono Geoscience Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency

Osawa, Hideaki

Gijutsushi "Chubu", (12), p.34 - 41, 2023/09

This introduces current status of Toki Geochronology Research Laboratory, Tono Geoscience Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency.

Characteristics and formation process of fractures in crystalline rocks in northern Kyushu

Murakami, Hiroaki; Ashizawa, Masaomi*; Tanaka, Kazuhiro*

Oyo Chishitsu, 59(1), p.2 - 12, 2018/04

This study describes the features of fractures and their fillings along with the long-term behavior of their hydrogeological structures in an underground environment based on the results of a geological investigation conducted at an underground facility in northern Kyushu. Fractures were classified into five groups on the basis of fracture orientation: A, B, C, D, and low-angle groups. The genesis of all fractures is the cooling process of granodiorite pluton. Almost all of the water-conducting fractures are included in the B group. Because a number of fracture fillings in the B group are filled by prehnite and crushed fragments of epidote and quartz, the fractures in this group alternated sealing and re-opening. The fracture characteristics in the B group are follow as: accompanying many alteration halos, long trace length, and cutting off other fractures. These results indicate that fractures in the B group have possibly functioned as pathways for groundwater flow in the long term.

Studies on the reconstruction of the concept of rock mass around the tunnel; Japanese fiscal year, 2014 (Contract research)

Kojima, Keiji*; Onishi, Yuzo*; Aoki, Kenji*; Tochiyama, Osamu*; Nishigaki, Makoto*; Tosaka, Hiroyuki*; Yoshida, Hidekazu*; Murakami, Hiroaki; Sasao, Eiji

JAEA-Research 2015-017, 54 Pages, 2015/12

JAEA-Research-2015-017.pdf:17.3MB

This report is concerned with research to reconstruct more realistic near-field (NF) concept for the geological disposal of radioactive waste. This year is the final year of this committee activities. So we have carried out the summary on Re-thinking of NF concept and its technical basis. Cooperation between the study fields and combination of various science and technology and evaluation methods are one of the important technical bases of NF concept. In addition, since the "Great East Japan Earthquake 2011", the safety paradigm has shifted dramatically. In the reconstruction of realistic NF concept, it is necessary to analyze what security matters whether society has become unacceptable for geological disposal. Committee, we also exchange views on such matters and presented the direction of future research and development for geological disposal.

Activation energy of diffusivities for deuterated water in compacted sodium-bentonite; Through-diffusion experiment and molecular dynamics simulation

Suzuki, Satoru; Sato, Haruo; Ishidera, Takamitsu; Fujii, Naoki*; Kawamura, Katsuyuki*

JNC TN8400 2001-031, 44 Pages, 2002/05

JNC-TN8400-2001-031.pdf:1.58MB

In order to quantify effect of temperature on diffusivity of deuterated water (HDO) in compacted sodium-bentonite, through-diffusion experiments were conducted at elevated tempemture from 298 to 333 K. Kunipia F (Na-montmorillonite content 98 wt. %; Kunimine Industly Co.) was compacted to a dry density of 0.9 and l.35 Mg/m. Since smectite flakes were perpendicularly oriented to a direction of compaction, anisotropy of diffusivity was investigated parallel and normal to the preferred orientation of smectite. Effective diffusion coeficient D of HDO was larger for a diffusional direction parallel to the preferred orientation than normal to that for both dry densities. These results well agreed to the previously reported ones for tritiated water. Activation energies of D in compacted bentonite increased with increasing dry density in the range of 19 - 25 kJ/mol which was slightly larger than that in bulk water (18 kJ/mol). This relationship can be considered to be due to both the pore structure development and high activation energy of water (18-23 kJ/mol) in the vicinity of smectite surface (within 2 nm) on the basis of molecular dynamics simulations.

The Primary evaluation of the impacts of naturaI phenomena on the safety functions of the geological disposal system; An Example study on site generic phase

Makino, Hitoshi; ; Miyahara, Kaname

JNC TN8400 2000-033, 74 Pages, 2000/11

JNC-TN8400-2000-033.pdf:9.19MB

Natural phenomena is one of the potential factors perturbing the long-term stability of the geological environment, and for natural phenomena, it is necessary to consider uncertainties relevant to time, frequency and effect. Therefore it will be important to have information about the potential impacts of natural phenomena on the safety functions of geological disposal system in the future by assuming that natural phenomena perturbs the safety functions of the geological disposal system. In this report, we have considered 4 natural phenomena, 'uplift, subsidence and denudation', 'climatic and sea-level changes', 'earthquakes and fault movement' and 'volcanism', which had been extracted by investigation in foreign countries and by considering the characteristics of Japan as natural phenomena which may perturb the long-term stability of the geological environment. And we have considered mainly typical effects of naturaI phenomena on geological environment and investigated the typical impacts of those natural phenomena on the safety functions of the geological disposal system. On perturbation scenarios, the maximum of total doses have been less than regulatory guidelines in foreign countries in all situations except the cases assuming that a new fault, which causes significant pathway of groundwater flow and nuclide migration, intersects the waste packages. In the case, the maximum of total doses may reach the same level as regulatory guidelines in foreign countries or natural radiation exposure in Japan depending on fault generation time or grandwater flow rate through the fault. And, on isolation failure scenarios, it has been implied that nuclide mass/flux originated from geological disposal is comparable level with nuclide mass/flux in natural environment. These results could give useful information about the potential impacts of natural phenomena on the safety functions of geological disposal system, and also could show the potential importance of ...

Regional hydrogeological study project; Results from 1992-1999 period

Koide, Kaoru; Nakano, Katsushi; Takeuchi, Shinji; Hama, Katsuhiro; ; Ikeda, Koki;

JNC TN7400 2000-014, 83 Pages, 2000/11

JNC-TN7400-2000-014.pdf:4.84MB

The Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute (JNC) has been conducting a wide range of geoscientific research in order to build a firm scientific and technological basis for the research and development of geological disposal. One of the major components of the ongoing geoscientific research programme is the Regional Hydrogeological Study (RHS) project in the Tono region, central Japan. The main goal of the RHS project is to develop and demonstrate surface-based investigation methodologies to characterize geological environments at a regional scale in Japan. The RHS project was initiated in 1992. The first five years of the project were devoted mainly to develop methodologies and techniques for deep borehole investigations in crystalline rock in Japan. Investigations to verify the performance of new instruments and methods for borehole drilling, hydraulic testing and groundwater sampling were conducted. In the last four years, surface-based investigations and a stepwise development of models of the geological environment have been carried out. To date, remote sensing, geological mapping, airborne and ground geophysical investigations, and measurements in eleven deep boreholes have been carried out. Hydro monitorring is continuing in these boreholes. Important results that have been obtained from these investigations include multi-disciplinaly information about the heterogeneity of lithology and hydraulic, geochemical and rock mechanical properties of the granitic rock, and evolution of the groundwater geochemistry. Technical knowledge and experience have been accumulated, which allow application of the methodologies and techniques to characterize the geological environment in crystalline rock. The results from these R%D activities were used as prime inputs for the H12 report that JNC submitted to the Japanese Government in l999. Results from such R&D is also acknowledged by other geoscientific studies in general. JNC will synthesize the results from R&D ...

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JNC TN1440 2000-009, 150 Pages, 2000/11

JNC-TN1440-2000-009.pdf:7.93MB

no abstracts in English

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; Hama, Katsuhiro; ; Saito, Hiroshi;

JNC TN7410 2000-004, 16 Pages, 2000/04

JNC-TN7410-2000-004.pdf:0.5MB

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Koide, Kaoru; Nakano, Katsushi; ; ; ; Saito, Hiroshi; Takeuchi, Shinji

JNC TN7410 2000-001, 56 Pages, 2000/04

JNC-TN7410-2000-001.pdf:2.6MB

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JNC TJ7440 2000-004, 52 Pages, 2000/03

JNC-TJ7440-2000-004.pdf:12.62MB

no abstracts in English