The Okélobondo natural fission reactor, southeast Gabon: Geology, mineralogy, and retardation of nuclear-reaction products

Abstract

Research Article| January 01, 2001 The Okélobondo natural fission reactor, southeast Gabon: Geology, mineralogy, and retardation of nuclear-reaction products Keld Alstrup Jensen; Keld Alstrup Jensen 1Department of Earth Sciences, University of Aarhus, DK-8000 Århus C, Denmark Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Rodney C. Ewing Rodney C. Ewing 2Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences and Department of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2104, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Keld Alstrup Jensen 1Department of Earth Sciences, University of Aarhus, DK-8000 Århus C, Denmark Rodney C. Ewing 2Department of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences and Department of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2104, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 26 Apr 1999 Revision Received: 29 Nov 1999 Accepted: 22 Feb 2000 First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online Issn: 1943-2674 Print Issn: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2001) 113 (1): 32–62. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(2001)113<0032:TOLNFR>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 26 Apr 1999 Revision Received: 29 Nov 1999 Accepted: 22 Feb 2000 First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Keld Alstrup Jensen, Rodney C. Ewing; The Okélobondo natural fission reactor, southeast Gabon: Geology, mineralogy, and retardation of nuclear-reaction products. GSA Bulletin 2001;; 113 (1): 32–62. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(2001)113<0032:TOLNFR>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Nuclear fission reactors occur in the Oklo-Okélobondo uranium deposit in southeast Gabon. The Okélobondo reactor zone (RZOKE, ∼310 m depth) was the last reactor zone to be excavated before mining was terminated in December 1997. RZOKE is situated at the base of a 2.5 m deep and 2.7 m wide reactor synform located between the FA sandstone and hydrothermally altered black shales—argile de pile—of the FB Formation. The reactor synform developed by hydrothermal dissolution of the FA sandstone during criticality at ca. 2 Ga. The core of RZOKE is up to ∼55 cm thick and contains ≤90 vol% uraninite (≤91.24 ± 0.91 wt% UO2 and ≤7.22 ± 0.53 wt% PbO) embedded in a matrix of Si-rich illite (6.08 to 7.91 Si per formula unit [p.f.u.]). The argile de pile (typically ≤60 cm) consists mainly of donbassitic chlorite (7.84 to 8.07 octahedrally coordinated Al p.f.u.) cut by fine illite veinlets. Fe-rich chlorite (0.708 to 1.427 Fe p.f.u.) is abundant at the edges of the reactor zone. Organic matter in both the reactor zone and near-field surroundings played an important role in the enhancement of porosity and stabilization of U during formation and operation of RZOKE. Fissiogenic Zr, Ce, Nd, and Th (daughter of 240Pu and 236U generated by neutron-capture reactions) are well retained in uraninite and (U,Zr)-silicate. The (U,Zr)-silicate formed during local migration of Zr, Sr, U, Pu, and lanthanide fission products during reactor criticality. Fissiogenic Ru, including 99Ru—a daughter of 99Tc, was mainly retained as ruthenium arsenide (± Pb, Co, Ni, and S). Although RZOKE generally appears well preserved, partially dissolved galena and uraninite, as well as the presence of accessory anglesite(?) and lead-uranyl sulfate hydroxide hydrate, suggest that recently observed deep, oxidized groundwaters have begun to interact with RZOKE. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.