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Title:
Record of Cycling Operation of the Natural Nuclear Reactor in the Oklo/Okelobondo Area in Gabon
Authors:
Meshik, A. P.; Hohenberg, C. M.; Pravdivtseva, O. V.
Affiliation:
AA(Physics Department, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA), AB(Physics Department, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA), AC(Physics Department, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, USA)
Publication:
Physical Review Letters, vol. 93, Issue 18, id. 182302 (PhRvL Homepage)
Publication Date:
10/2004
Origin:
APS
PACS Keywords:
Fission reactor types, Radioactive wastes waste disposal, Reactor control systems, Other topics in solid Earth physics
DOI:
10.1103/PhysRevLett.93.182302
Bibliographic Code:
2004PhRvL..93r2302M

Abstract

Using selective laser extraction technique combined with sensitive ion-counting mass spectrometry, we have analyzed the isotopic structure of fission noble gases in U-free La-Ce-Sr-Ca aluminous hydroxy phosphate associated with the 2 billion yr old Oklo natural nuclear reactor. In addition to elevated abundances of fission-produced Zr, Ce, and Sr, we discovered high (up to 0.03 cm3 STP/g) concentrations of fission Xe and Kr, the largest ever observed in any natural material. The specific isotopic structure of xenon in this mineral defines a cycling operation for the reactor with 30-min active pulses separated by 2.5h dormant periods. Thus, nature not only created conditions for self-sustained nuclear chain reactions, but also provided clues on how to retain nuclear wastes, including fission Xe and Kr, and prevent uncontrolled runaway chain reaction.
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