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Differential helium retention in zircons: Implications for nuclear waste containment
Author(s) -
Gentry Robert V.,
Glish Gary L.,
McBay Eddy H.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl009i010p01129
Subject(s) - precambrian , helium , radioactive waste , containment (computer programming) , geology , corrosion , isotopes of helium , materials science , geochemistry , nuclear physics , metallurgy , physics , atomic physics , computer science , programming language
A very sensitive helium leak detector was utilized to measure the helium liberated from groups of zircons extracted from six deep granite cores. The observed low differential loss of gaseous helium down to 2900 m (197°C) in these ancient Precambrian rocks is easily attributable to the greater diffusion of He at higher temperatures rather than losses due to corrosion of the zircons. This fact strongly suggests that deep granite burial should be a very safe corrosion‐resistant containment procedure for long‐term waste encapsulation.