IEER

Fluid inclusion studies of samples
from the Exploratory Study Facility,
Yucca Mountain, Nevada

By: Yuri V. Dublyansky, Ph.D.

Prepared for the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research

December 1998

Available on this website:
PDF version of the full report [10.6 MB, 135 pages]
Press Release and Press Statements
Foreword to the report
Main Findings and Recommendations
Introduction
Letter to Lake Barrett, Acting Director, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management
Letter to DOE Secretary Bill Richardson
Ordering information

Table of contents
1. INTRODUCTION

2. FLUID INCLUSIONS AND INFORMATION THAT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THEM

3. TECHNICAL DETAILS ON SAMPLING, SAMPLE PREPARATION, EQUIPMENT AND TECHNIQUES USED
3.1. Sampling
3.2. Sample preparation
3.3. Analytical procedures and equipment used

4. OCCURRENCES OF CALCITE IN THE ESF

5. FLUID INCLUSION RESULTS
5.1. Samples from the first 200 m of the ESF
5.2. Samples from the ESF
5.3. U-series dating

6. DISCUSSION
6.1. The issue: Saturated vs. Unsaturated paleo hydrology at Yucca Mountain
6.2. A few words on the terminology
6.3. Methodology: the study of epigenetic calcite for paleo hydrologic reconstruction
6.4. Discussion: Why isotopic methods are not sufficient for paleo hydrologic reconstructions?
6.5. Origin of secondary minerals in the ESF
6.6. Origin and significance of all-liquid inclusions
6.7. Relation of epigenetic minerals to the hydrocarbons in the Paleozoic rocks
6.8. A hint on the spatial structure of the system
6.9. Discussion: Use of the Yucca Mountain calcites for paleo climatic reconstructions
6.10. Evaluation of the "slow continuous deposition" model
6.11. Ages of secondary minerals at Yucca Mountain
6.12. Implications of the data obtained from fluid inclusions on the Yucca Mountain Total System Performance Assessment

7. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

REFERENCES

APPENDIX 1: FLUID INCLUSIONS IN CALCITE SAMPLES FROM THE ESF, NEVADA TEST SITE, NEVADA

APPENDIX 2: SCHEMATIC PLAN AND GEOLOGIC CROSS- SECTION OF THE ESF

APPENDIX 3: REVIEWS AND EVALUATIONS

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Posted December 1998
Updated August 20, 2008