Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory Office of Science NEWTON's Homepage NEWTON's Homepage
NEWTON, Ask A Scientist!
NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne Nuclear Waste and Caves 
Name: Karina
Status: student
Age: 12
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 2000-2001
Question:
What are the benefits of storing nuclear waste in subterranean salt mining caves?

Replies:
The main advantage is that since the salt has been in its deposit for millions of years, there could not have been groundwater flowing through the deposit for at least that long. If there had been, it would have carried the salt away. So, if nuclear waste is placed inside the salt bed, chances are good that groundwater won't carry it anywhere else. The nuclear waste will decay away to nonradioactive elements before it leaves the salt deposit.

Richard E. Barrans Jr., Ph.D.
Assistant Director
PG Research Foundation, Darien, Illinois


Click here to return to the Physics Archives

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.

For assistance with NEWTON contact a System Operator (help@newton.dep.anl.gov), or at Argonne's Educational Programs

NEWTON AND ASK A SCIENTIST
Educational Programs
Building 360
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne, Illinois
60439-4845, USA
Update: June 2012
Weclome To Newton

Argonne National Laboratory