Comportamiento geoquímico de las formaciones salinas bajo el efecto de la temperatura y la irradiación

Abstract

The production of radiation induced defects, as well as fluid migration (brine and gases), are the most relevant phenomena due to the combined effects of heat and irradiation in repositories emplaced in rock salt. In order to gain knowledge of these phenomena, laboratory experiments on samples coming from the Sallent Mine (Barcelona) have been performed. The water content ranges between 0.04 and 1.00 %. Nevertheless, smaller releases of brine are expected, since part of it is present in fluid inclusions of a size below 100 µm. The chemical composition of the brine, which is a key issue in the study of container corrosion, is in the case of the fluid inc1usions enriched in magnesium (1.15 mol/l) and potassium (0.31 mol/l). The study of the gas content reveals the absence of toxic gases and the scarcity of hydrogen and methane. Finally, the amount of radiation induced defects, which are controlled by the mineralogical composition of the rock salt, is similar to those obtained with the Jain-Lidiard model.