Application of studies of fluid inclusions in salt samples to the problems of nuclear waste storage

Abstract

The fluids present as fluid inclusions in salt samples from various bedded and domal salt deposits provide a surprising amount of information on the saline environment throughout the geological history of the deposit. Such information is valuable in considerations of the possible future history of these deposits, should they be used for long-term nuclear waste storage sites. In addition, however, the fluid inclusions (and other vatrieties of water) present in the salt are considerable importance to the safe design and operation of such sites, and most analyses of salt for water are erroneously low. Fluid inclusions will generally migrate up the thermal gradients, toward the waste canisters, and contain highly corrosive fluids.