DOCSLIB.ORG

Vicinity of Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada- a Potential Nuclear-Waste Disposal Site

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Vicinity of Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada- a Potential Nuclear-Waste Disposal Site Structure of Pre-Cenozoic Rocks in the Vicinity of Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada- A Potential Nuclear-Waste Disposal Site Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy Structure of Pre-Cenozoic Rocks in the Vicinity of Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada- A Potential Nuclear-Waste Disposal Site By G. D. ROBINSON Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy Preliminary interpretation of the structure of largely covered Proterozoic and Paleozoic rocks that underlie a potential nuclear­ waste disposal site U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1647 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR DONALD PAUL HODEL, Secretary U.S. GEOlOGICAL SURVEY Dallas L. Peck, Director UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTlNG OFFICE 1985 For sale by the Distribution Branch, Text Products Section U.S. Geological Survey 604 South Pickett St. Alexandria, VA 22304 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Robinson, G. D. (Gershon Du Vall), 1918- Structure of pre-Cenozoic rocks in the vicinity of Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada--a potential nuclear-waste disposal site. (U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1647} Bibliography Supt. of Doc. No.: I 19.3:1647 1. Geology--Nevada--Yucca Mountain Region. 2. Geology, Structural. 3. Radioactive waste disposal in the ground--Nevada-­ Yucca Mountain Region. I. United States. Dept. of Energy. II. Title. Ill. Series: United States. Geological Survey. Bulletin 1647 QE75.B9 no. 1647 557.3s 85-600276 [QE138.Y83l [557.93'34] CONTENTS Abstract 1 Introduction Previous work 3 Method of study 3 Acknowledgments 5 Regional stratigraphy and structure of pre-Cenozoic rocks 5 Structure of pre-Cenozoic rocks of the Yucca Flat area 7 Structure of pre-Cenozoic rocks of the Yucca Mountain study area 11 Previous interpretations 11 Sub-Cenozoic surface: depth and configuration 12 Structure of exposed pre-Cenozoic rocks 14 Bare Mountain 15 Amargosa Desert 15 Striped Hills and Specter Range NW quadrangles 15 Skull Mountain quadrangle 16 Mine Mountain quadrangle 16 Calico Hills 17 Folds in pre-Cenozoic rocks 17 Modifications of folds 17 Some hydrologic aspects 19 Conclusions 20 References cited 20 PLATE In pocket 1. Geologic map and simplistic geologic map of Proterozoic and Paleozoic rocks in the Yucca Mountain region, Nevada FIGURES 1. Index map of Yucca Mountain region, Nevada, and adjoining California 2 2. Index map and listing of published geologic maps referred to in this report and used to construct the geologic maps on plate 1 4 3. Preliminary tectonic map of Yucca Flat area emphasizing faults 8 4. Geologic-tectonic maps emphasizing faults 9 5. Isopach map of Cenozoic rocks 10 6. Isostatic residual gravity anomaly map 11 7. Aeromagnetic map 13 8. Mesh perspective of the sub-Cenozoic surface under Yucca Mountain region 14 9. Simplistic hydrogeologic map and cross section of Proterozoic and Paleozoic rocks in the Yucca Mountain study area 19 TABLE 1. Pre-Cenozoic stratigraphic and hydrogeologic units, Yucca Mountain region, Nevada 6 Ill Structure of Pre-Cenozoic Rocks in the Vicinity of Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada- A Potential Nuclear-Waste Disposal Site By G. D. Robinson Abstract seems intact, it probably has not experienced mega-scale A potential nuclear-waste disposal site is being evalu­ thrust- or strike-slip faulting. Many extensional dip-slip ated at Yucca Mountain, southern Nye County, Nevada. faults have broadened the synclinorium. The site is within Tertiary volcanic rocks, and much of the Viewed hydrologically, the two sequences of clastic surrounding region is underlain by such rocks. The vol­ strata (upper Proterozoic, Lower Cambrian, and Mississip­ canic rocks are as much as 3,000 m thick north and west of pian) are regional aquitards, the two sequences of carbon­ the site but thin to as little as 1,200 m under the site and ate strata (Middle Cambrian to Upper Devonian and apparently continue thinning southward beneath Quater­ Pennsylvanian and Lower Permian), regional aquifers. How nary cover. Regional ground-water flow is generally to the and where these aquitards and aquifers intersect in the south, toward discharge areas in the southern Amargosa southward-thinning volcanic section and southward-thick­ Desert. Hydrologic studies have indicated that effluents ening valley fill are key questions. Most of the site is proba­ leaking from a repository in unsaturated volcanic rocks may bly underlain by Paleozoic rocks that have water-bearing drain downward and find pathways in older rocks beneath properties, as low-dipping Silurian carbonate rocks have the volcanic rocks; therefore, it is important to know the been penetrated in a deep drill hole in the center of the lithology and structure of those rocks. This report is a pre­ study area; the northern part of the site, however may be liminary interpretation ofthe gross distribution and present underlain by aquitard Mississippian clastic strata, as a structure of the largely buried prevolcanic rocks in the positive magnetic anomaly there is evidently produced by study area of about 2,200 km2 surrounding the site, viewed magnetic minerals known locally only in those rocks. Much in an irregularly shaped regional setting of about 6,700 km2. of the Yucca Mountain region is probably underlain by the The regional stratigraphic section begins with upper lower Paleozoic aquifer, but Proterozoic aquitard rocks Proterozoic and Lower Cambrian clastic strata more than dominate the southern border and beyond. 1,800 m thick that are overlain conformably by Middle INTRODUCTION Cambrian through Upper Devonian dominantly carbonate strata as much as 5,000 m thick, Mississippian clastic strata A potential nuclear-waste disposal site is being evalu­ as much as 2,400 m thick, and Pennsylvanian and lower ated at Yucca Mountain, southern Nye County, Nevada (fig. Permian carbonate strata more than 1,100 m thick. 1). The repository would be in the unsaturated zone, wholly Geophysical evidence suggests that large plutonic or meta­ within Tertiary volcanic rocks which underlie much of the morphic rock masses probably do not exist beneath Yucca region. The volcanic rocks are estimated to be as much as Mountain at depths relevant to site selection. Structural patterns indicate that the prevolcanic 4,500 m thick north of Yucca Mountain but are believed to rocks are deformed into an essentially intact asymmetric thin abruptly under the mountain and probably to continue synclinoria! basin about 80 km broad, with Yucca Mountain thinning southward beneath Quaternary cover in the in the southwest sector. The basin is flanked by uplifted Amargosa Desert, as suggested by gravity (Snyder and Carr, upper Proterozoic clastic rocks and cored by Pennsylvanian 1982) and aeromagnetic (Kane and Bracken, 1983) data. and Permian carbonate rocks. The west and south limbs, Regional-ground water flow is generally to the south, toward where exposed, are steep to overturned; dips of exposed discharge areas in the southeastern Amargosa Desert strata elsewhere are generally moderate to low. Buried sub­ (Winograd and Thordarson, 1975). Hydrologic studies indi­ ordinate folds beneath and around Yucca Mountain are cate that effluents leaking from a repository in the unsaturated interpreted to be concentric, open, moderately dipping, volcanic rocks could drain downward into the ground-water 8-24 km broad, and gently plunging north to northeast. flow system and find pathways in the older rocks; con­ Regional evidence suggests that one or more thrust faults break the Proterozoic-Paleozoic section beneath and (or) sequently, it is important to know the lithology and structure south of Yucca Mountain, but it (they) cannot be located or of the rocks beneath the volcanic rocks, especially south of characterized with available information. Large strike-slip the site. faults, though common in southern Nevada, are not recog­ Direct information on the rocks beneath the volcanic nized within the synclinorium. Because the synclinorium sequence, based on outcrops near the site, is meager (pl. 1, ,1b7'r00:...,.'----------,~--------...:1..;16;,.;;'3.;.0'---------~---------1-161T'0_0' ____ 37 1 'll r\ \._ _AI~ FORCE \ 37'15 'l ~UN~ERY~~~--~ -- Pahute \ Mesa Rainier Mesa tb ~ ~ Yucca Flat I Frenchman Flat I 36'45' --0-=: -. Mercury 36'30' NEVADA 10 MILES 10 KILOMETERS FIGURE 1.-fndex map of Yucca Mountain region, Nevada and California, showing the pro­ posed nuclear-waste disposal site (shaded), the Yucca Mountain study area, and area of plate 1. 2 map A). The nearest extensive exposure of such rocks is at compiled by Sinnock (1982). A host of publications on the Bare Mountain, 16 km west of the site. Small exposures of Cordilleran fold belt, too numerous to list here, has also been older rocks are present in the Calico Hills, 8 km to the east, consulted; a few are cited in the text. and another area of large exposures is in the ranges that flank Considerable geophysical work has been conducted in Rock Valley, 24 km and more to the southeast; to the north the the region, mostly in relation to weapon testing and nuclear­ volcanic cover is thick and continuous for many kilometers. waste management. Especially useful for this report have Direct subsurface information consists of a single drill hole been aeromagnetic studies by Hazelwood and others (1963), near the southeast comer of the site (pl. 1). Therefore, the Zietz and others (1977), and Bath and Jahren (1984); gravity problem must be approached mainly by extrapolating from studies by Healey and Miller (1971), Ponce (1981 ), Snyder and interpolating between outcrops of pre-Cenozoic rocks, and Oliver (1981), and Snyder and Carr (1982); and a seismic aided by geophysical data. Yucca Mountain lies within the refraction study by Hoffman and Mooney ( 1983 ). Seismic Cordilleran fold-and-thrust belt, so analogy with appropriate reflection studies (L. W. Pankratz and H. D. Ackermaa, parts of the fold belt would appear to be a valuable tool in this written commun., 1982) have not proved useful with respect study.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Geodesy and Contemporary Strain in the Yucca Mountain Region, Nevada
    Geodesy and Contemporary Strain in the Yucca Mountain Region, Nevada By W.R. Keefer, J.A. Coe, S.K. Pezzopane, anofW. Clay Hunter U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Open-File Report 97-383 Prepared in cooperation with the NEVADA OPERATIONS OFFICE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Interagency Agreement DE-AI08-92NV10874) Denver, Colorado 1997 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Gordon P. Eaton, Director The use of firm, trade, and brand names in this report is for identification purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey. For additional information write to: Copies of this report can be purchased from: Chief, Earth Science Investigations Program U.S. Geological Survey Yucca Mountain Project Branch Information Services U.S. Geological Survey Box 25286 Box 25046, Mail Stop 421 Federal Center Denver Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 Denver, CO 80225-0046 CONTENTS Abstract................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction .............................................................................. 1 Background and Piirpose...........................................................................................................................................^ 1 Geologic Setting ......................................................................................................................................................... 4 Geodetic
    [Show full text]
  • 95-289, "Origins of Secondary Silica with Yucca Mountain, Nye
    ORIGINS OF SECONDARY SILICA WITHIN YUCCA MOUNTAIN, NYE COUNTY, SOUTHWESTERN NEVADA by Richard J. Moscati and Joseph F. Whelan U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Open-File Report 95-289 Prepared in cooperation with the NEVADA OPERATIONS OFFICE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, under Interagency Agreement DE-AI08-92NV1 0874 Denver, Colorado 1996 CONTENTS A b stract ................................................................................................................................................................................. ..........................................I Introduction ......................................... ,...............,......................................,.................................;...................................... ....... I A cknow ledgm ents ................................................................................................................................................................. ............................................I Geologic setting .............................................................................................................................. 3 Silica and calcite petrology ................................................................................................................................................... ..........................................3 Analytical methods ........................................................................................................................... 5 Discussion of origins of silica ..............................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Mercury Bowling Alley Demolition
    MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION NEVADA FIELD OFFICE, AND THE NEVADA STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER REGARDING THE DEMOLITION OF THE MERCURY BOWLING ALLEY, NEVADA NATIONAL SECURITY SITE, NEVADA WHEREAS, the National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Field Office (NNSA/NFO) intends to demolish the Mercury Bowling Alley (Building 23-517) on the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) in Nye County, Nevada, as part of its plans for new construction and modernization of Mercury to support the NNSS's changing role in national security; and WHEREAS, the present undertaking consists of the demolition of Building 23-517 (SHPO Resource Number B 14451) that has remained vacant since the mid-i 990s following the end of nuclear testing activities at the NNSS (formerly Nevada Test Site [NTS]). In planning for the undertaking, NNSA/NFO considered all possible alternatives to avoid and minimize adverse effects to historic properties; and WHEREAS, theNNSA/NFO has defined the undertaking's area of potential effect (APE) as a 4.5-acre area in Mercury bounded on the west by the Mercury Highway, on the east by Teapot Street, on the south by Trinity Avenue, and on the north by a prominent terrace immediately south of a parking lot, park, and tennis/basketbatl court (Attachment A); and WHEREAS, the NNSA/NFO recorded and evaluated Building 23-517 (Attachment A) En accordance with the Nevada ArchUectvral Survey and Inventory Guidelines, and has determined that Building 23-517 is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) under the Secretary's Significance Criteria A and C at the locai level of historic significance related to the era of nuclear testing; and WHEREAS, the NNSA/NFO has determined that the undertaking will constitute an adverse effect to the historic property Building 23-517, and has consulted with the Nevada Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) pursuant to 36 C.F.R.
    [Show full text]
  • Weiss Et Al, 1995) This Paper Disputes the Interpretation of Castor Et Al
    EVALUATION OF THE GEOLOGIC RELATIONS AND SEISMOTECTONIC STABILITY OF THE YUCCA MOUNTAIN AREA NEVADA NUCLEAR WASTE SITE INVESTIGATION (NNWSI) PROGRESS REPORT 30 SEPTEMBER 1995 CENTER FOR NEOTECTONIC STUDIES MACKAY SCHOOL OF MINES UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, RENO DISTRIBUTION OF ?H!S DOCUMENT IS UKLMTED DISCLAIMER Portions of this document may be illegible in electronic image products. Images are produced from the best available original document CONTENTS SECTION I. General Task Steven G. Wesnousky SECTION II. Task 1: Quaternary Tectonics John W. Bell Craig M. dePolo SECTION III. Task 3: Mineral Deposits Volcanic Geology Steven I. Weiss Donald C. Noble Lawrence T. Larson SECTION IV. Task 4: Seismology James N. Brune Abdolrasool Anooshehpoor SECTION V. Task 5: Tectonics Richard A. Schweickert Mary M. Lahren SECTION VI. Task 8: Basinal Studies Patricia H. Cashman James H. Trexler, Jr. DISCLAIMER This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsi- bility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Refer- ence herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recom- mendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.
    [Show full text]
  • Board of County Phone (775) 482-8191 Fax (775) 751-7093 Comnussioners
    Pahrump Office Tonopah Office Nye County Govermnent Center Nye County Courthouse 2100 F. Walt Williams Dove William P. Beko Justice Facility Suite 100 P0 Box 153 Palmimp, NV 89048 Tonopah, NV 89049 Phone (775) 751-7075 Board of County Phone (775) 482-8191 Fax (775) 751-7093 Comnussioners. Fax (775) 482-8198 Nye County, Nevada April 30, 2019 The Honorable John Barrasso The Honorable Thomas R. Carper Chairman, Committee on Environment and Ranking Member, Committee on Public Works Environment and Public Works 410 Dirksen Senate Office Building 456 Dirksen Senate Office Building United States Senate United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510 Dear: Chairman Barrasso and Ranking Member Carper: On behalf of the Nye County Conmiission, along with eight other Nevada counties (out of a total of seventeen) I strongly urge you to support the Senate bill to jump start the licensing hearing for the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository. This position is in accordance with the law, supports the objective scientific studies on the safety of the repository and has the support of local governments in Nevada. It is the right thing to do. As you know, funding for the license process has been denied for nine years on purely political grounds. The overwhelming body of scientific studies done on the proposed repository have demonstrated that it can be built and operated safely. This includes the safety reviews done by the professionals at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Further, the funding we are requesting will be used to conduct further scientific reviews by the NRC. The opponents of the repository will have every opportunity to show that the repository is unsafe, if they can make that case based on facts.
    [Show full text]
  • United States Department of the Interior Geological Survey
    UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR GEOLOGICAL SURVEY GUIDEBOOK FOR PAST FIELD TRIPS TO THE NEVADA TEST SITE by R. L* Christiansen, F. G. Poole, Harley Barnes, P. P. Orkild, F. M. Byers, Jr., W. J. Carr, F. A. McKeown, F. N. Houser, E. M. Shoemaker, and W. L. Emerick Open-file Report 1969 69 This report is preliminary and has not been edited or reviewed for conformity with U.S. Geological Survey standards and nomenclature. CONTENTS Page General Introduction, by Robert L. Christiansen. ........ 1 Paleozoic Stratigraphy and post-Paleozoic tectonic structure of Nevada Test Site and Vicinity, by F. G. Poole and Harley Barnes. ........................ 2 Timber Mountain Caldera and Related Volcanic Rocks, by Robert L. Christiansen, Paul P. Orkild, F. M. Byers, Jr., and W. J. Carr ........................ 24 Engineering Geology and Surface Effects of Nuclear Explosions, by F. A. McKeown, F. N. Houser, E. M. Shoemaker, and W. L. Emerick. ........................ 47 GENERAL INTRODUCTION A wide variety of geological studies has been undertaken by the U.S. Geological Survey at the Nevada Test Site since 1957 in cooperation with the Nevada Operations Office of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. This book has been prepared as a guide to some of the major results of the Survey's studies in this area and has been*divided into three topically oriented field trips. In several respects the Nevada Test Site is located in an area that is especially interesting geologically. It lies along the projected trend of the Walker Lane and the Las Vegas Valley Shear Zone (Locke and others, 1940; Longwell, 1960), one of the major crustal features of the Basin-Range province.
    [Show full text]
  • OR Get the Facts About YUCCA MOUNTAIN
    Where is Yucca Mountain? Yucca Mountain is the only site being Yucca Mountain is located in Nevada, about an considered by the Department of Energy hour northwest of Las Vegas. It is in the desert, (DOE) as a “permanent disposal” site for the and the land it occupies includes public land, United States’ highly radioactive nuclear Nevada Test Site land, and Nellis Air Force Base waste. This spent nuclear fuel and high-level land. However, all of this land is part of the waste is currently located at 77 sites across the For more information, contact: Western Shoshone traditional homelands. If a country and would have to be transported by dump is built at Yucca Mountain, the Shoshone truck or rail to Yucca Mountain if that site is will lose access to this sacred place. approved as a geologic repository. Public Citizen’s Critical Mass Energy Under current law, 70,000 metric tons and Environment Program of waste would be allowed to be stored at 215 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Yucca Mountain, with 63,000 tons of that Washington, DC 20003 being commercial waste and the rest being www.citizen.org/cmep DOE waste. However, that still would not 202-546-4996 OREGON IDAHOIDAHO accommodate all the waste projected to be 202-547-7392 (fax) Get the Facts about Washoe produced in the U.S. (an estimated 107,500 County Humboldt metric tons of both commercial and DOE County YUCCA Elko County waste). OR Scientific study at Yucca Mountain has MOUNTAIN, Pershing revealed a host of potential problems at the RenoReno County Lander Nuclear Information County Eureka site.
    [Show full text]
  • Estimated Potentiometric Surface of the Death Valley Regional Groundwater Flow System, Nevada and California by Michael T
    U.S. Department of the Interior Prepared in cooperation with the Scientific Investigations Report 2016-5150 U.S. Geological Survey Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration Sheet 1 (Interagency Agreement DE–AI52–01NV13944), and Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (Interagency Agreement DE–AI28–02RW12167), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Nye County, Nevada 650000 115° 117° 550000 116° 600000 118° 450000 500000 San Antonio Mts Monte Cristo Range Monitor Range Big Smokey Stone Valley Cabin Grant Range Valley Railroad 1600 Tonopah Valley Quinn Canyon Range Reveille Range 38° 38° Lincoln County Reveille Valley 4200000 4200000 Esmeralda County 1700 1500 1800 1500 Cactus Penoyer Valley Goldfield 00 00 16 Flat 16 (Sand Spring Worthington Range Hill Valley) Nye County 1600 Cactus Range Clayton Valley Stonewall Montezuma Range Flat Kawich Range Timpahute Range Hiko Range Kawich Fish Lake Valley 1700 1500 Gold Valley North Pahranagat Range 1600 Flat Palmetto Mts 1400 Stonewall 1400 4150000 4150000 1500 Mtn 1600 1500 East Pahranagat Range Pahranagat Range 1300 Magruder Mtn Tikaboo Valley Belted Range EmigrantValley Groom Range Last Chance Range 1500 Slate Ridge 1200 1300 Eureka Valley 1200 Pahute 1100 Black Mesa 1100 Mtn 1000 Gold Rainier Eleana 1500 Range Mtn Stonewall Mesa 1000 White Mts Pass Desert Range 900 Halfpint Range Shoshone Yucca 800 Grapevine Mts Flat 1300 Timber Mtn 1500 Sarcobatus Mtn 700 4100000 4100000 1700 Flat 37° 37° 1400 Desert 1600 Valley
    [Show full text]
  • The Initiation and Evolution of Ignimbrite Faults, Gran Canaria, Spain
    The initiation and evolution of ignimbrite faults, Gran Canaria, Spain Aisling Mary Soden B.A. (Hons.), Trinity College Dublin Thesis presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) University of Glasgow Department of Geographical & Earth Sciences January 2008 © Aisling M. Soden, 2008 Abstract Abstract Understanding how faults initiate and fault architecture evolves is central to predicting bulk fault zone properties such as fault zone permeability and mechanical strength. The study of faults at the Earth’s surface and at near-surface levels is significant for the development of high level nuclear waste repositories, and CO2 sequestration facilities. Additionally, with growing concern over water resources, understanding the impact faults have on contaminant transport between the unsaturated and saturated zone has become increasingly important. The proposal of a high-level nuclear waste repository in the tuffs of Yucca Mountain, Nevada has stimulated interest into research on the characterisation of brittle deformation in non-welded to densely welded tuffs and the nature of fluid flow in these faults and fractures. The majority of research on the initiation and development of faults has focussed on shear faults in overall compressional stress regimes. Dilational structures have been examined in compressional settings e.g. overlapping faults generating extensional oversteps, or in normal faults cutting mechanical layered stratigraphy. Previous work has shown the affect mechanical stratigraphy has on fault dip angle; competent layers have steeply dipping segments and less competent layers have shallowly dipping segments. Displacement is accommodated by shear failure of the shallow segments and hybrid failure of the steeply dipping segments. As the fault walls of the shear failure segment slip past each other the walls of the hybrid failure segment are displaced horizontally as well as vertically thus forming dilation structures such as pull-aparts or extensional bends.
    [Show full text]
  • Water-Resources Investigations Report 84-4267 Prepared In
    HYDROLOGY OF YUCCA MOUNTAIN AND VICINITY, NEVADA-CALIFORNIA- INVESTIGATIVE RESULTS THROUGH MID-1983 U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 84-4267 Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY HYDROLOGY OF YUCCA MOUNTAIN AND VICINITY, NEVADA-CALIFORNIA- INVESTIGATIVE RESULTS THROUGH MID-1983 By R. K. Waddell, 0. H. Robison, and R. K. Blankennagel U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 84-4267 Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Denver, Colorado 1984 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR WILLIAM P. CLARK, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Dallas L. Peck, Director For additional information Copies of this report can write to: be purchased from: Chief, Nuclear Hydrology Program Open-File Services Section U.S. Geological Survey Western Distribution Branch Water Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey Central Region Box 25425, Federal Center Box 25046, Mail Stop 416 Denver, CO 80225 Denver Federal Center Telephone: (303) 236-7476 Denver, CO 80225 CONTENTS Page Abstract. ............................... 1 Introduction. ............................. 2 Purpose and scope. ........................ 2 Physiographic and geologic setting ................ 4 Surface-water hydrology ........................ 5 Stream characteristics ...................... 5 Flood potential. ......................... 6 Regional ground-water hydrology .................... 16 Hydrogeologic units. ....................... 16 Lower clastic aquitard. ................... 25 Lower carbonate aquifer ..................
    [Show full text]
  • A. Geologic Section B. Hydrogeologic Section SECTIONS SHOWING
    WATER-RESOURCES INVESTIGATIONS REPORT 96-4109 Prepared in cooperation with the Regional ground-water flow at and near the Nevada Test Site (sections)—PLATE 2 OF 4 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Laczniak and others, 1996, Summary of hydrogeologic controls U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY on ground-water flow at the Nevada Test Site, Nye County, Nevada 116°22'30" A. Geologic Section A A' Rainier Mesa NEVADA CALIFORNIA FEET FEET Rock Valley 8,000 Rainier Mesa Ex.1 8,000 Eleana fault system Dolomite Hill Range Tongue Wash fault Yucca Flat French Peak Frenchman Flat Mercury Specter Range Amargosa Flat Amargosa Valley Funeral Mountains Death Valley Valley UE-2ce Yucca Carpetbag fault Yucca faultU-7a UE-6e Lake U-11f Water Well 5b Travertine Well Bat Mountain fault Tracer 2 Devils Hole Travertine Springs SEA LEVEL SEA LEVEL -5,000 -5,000 Major buried fault NO VERTICAL EXAGGERATION in this zone; see text B. Hydrogeologic Section A Ash Meadows ground-water subbasin Alkali Flat - Furnace Creek Ranch ground-water subbasin A' Rainier Mesa FEET Eleana FEET Range Rock Valley 8,000 Rainier Mesa Ex.1 8,000 Dolomite Hill Yucca fault system Funeral Mountains Yucca Flat Lake French Peak Frenchman Flat Specter Range Amargosa Flat Amargosa Valley Death Valley UE-2ce U-7a Ash UE-6e Amargosa River U-11f Meadows Water Well 5b Travertine Well Tracer 2 Devils Hole Travertine Springs SEA LEVEL SEA LEVEL -5,000 -5,000 NO VERTICAL EXAGGERATION MILES 5 0 5 1015 20 51020300 51525 KILOMETERS EXPLANATION Geologic / hydrogeologic units—Units are shown on geologic section and hydrogeologic section Contact—Dashed where uncertain or inferred.
    [Show full text]
  • Final Environmental Impact Statement
    Final Environmental Impact Statement for a Geologic Repository for the Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste at Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada Readers Guide and Summary U.S. Department of Energy Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management DOE/EIS-0250 February 2002 ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS To ensure a more reader-friendly document, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) limited the use of acronyms and abbreviations in this environmental impact statement. In addition, acronyms and abbreviations are defined the first time they are used in each chapter or appendix. The acronyms and abbreviations used in the text of this document are listed below. Acronyms and abbreviations used in tables and figures because of space limitations are listed in footnotes to the tables and figures. CFR Code of Federal Regulations DOE U.S. Department of Energy (also called the Department) EIS environmental impact statement EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency FR Federal Register LCF latent cancer fatality MTHM metric tons of heavy metal NEPA National Environmental Policy Act, as amended NRC U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission NWPA Nuclear Waste Policy Act, as amended PM10 particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 micrometers or less PM2.5 particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less REMI Regional Economic Models, Inc. RMEI reasonably maximally exposed individual Stat. United States Statutes TSPA Total System Performance Assessment U.S.C. United States Code UNDERSTANDING SCIENTIFIC NOTATION DOE has used scientific notation in this EIS to express numbers that are so large or so small that they can be difficult to read or write.
    [Show full text]