Question

Considering rock and mineral stability, the types and characteristics of weathering processes, an... Considering rock and mineral stability, the types and characteristics of weathering processes, and the impacts of weathering on properties, what types of earth materials would you consider most suitable for use as chemical, radioactive, and mixed (chemical and radioactive) waste containment barriers? Why? Give consideration to the practical consequences of the prolonged exposure of clay containment barriers to waste chemicals. Discuss how different waste chemicals may affect various clay mineral families. Document how this impacts engineering properties and how you can measure it. Provide references from materials used in class or your text book.

Answer 1

We Know That the weathering is process to all of us , which involves the chemical reaction between the chemical compunds , in the atmosphere. We have seen that the car exhaust fall down , and produce lots of noise , it is because of the steel ,over several years , reacts with the rainwater and oxygend producing exygen. the compound making up the large majority of the earths surface -the minerals which make up rock - are , by , large , very slow to react. Hence , large scale is the weathering is a process which take place , millions of years .

Waste form which contains radioactive waste are intended for disposal in engineered facilities constructed in stable geologic formation. Geologic repositories are designed with multipile barriers of isolation waste from the environment . They Both conatain engineered barriers which include the waste form , disposal canister , and backfills. There are two basic isolation strategies to achieve long term safety of multipile barrier disposal facilities ----

• containment of the radionuclides within the engineered and the natural barrier of the disposal facility . containment allow the time for the radioactive decay , which reduces the hazar of radioactive element of waste.

Ateenuation of concentration of the radionuclides which are released from the disposal facility.

Clay minerals belong to the family of phyllosilicate , which are charaterized by their layered structure which are composed of the polymeric sheet of the silica tetrahedra which is attached with the octahedral sheet. clay minerals have been investigate on a large scale for their significance in environment , geological and industries settings.