Objective
The objectives of the Palmottu Natural Analogue Project are to 1) Provide a quantitative description of a U-Th ore deposit located in a granitic host rock similar to rocks proposed for location of repositories for high level radioactive waste by many EU countries;
2) Assess the relative importance of processes that control groundwater flow in fractured crystalline rock;
3) Study and model the effects of geochemically controlled oxidation and reduction processes on the movement of radionuclides in fractured crystalline rocks;
4) Study the role of retardation mechanisms on radionuclide transport; 5) Study the effects of repeated glacial cycles on the bedrock properties; 6) Use the data and understanding developed through these studies to develop an refine models to be used in the assessment of the performance of potential repository sites in crystalline rocks.
The Palmottu U-Th deposit is located in mica gneisses and granites typical of crystalline geological provinces. The uranium deposits extend from the oxidizing environment near the bedrock surface down into reducing environments that characterize these crystalline rocks at depth. This allows the study of the full cycle of uranium migration under natural conditions, starting with interaction of oxidizing waters with uranium ore, followed by transport processes and sorption equilibria as the uranium-bearing waters migrate through the fractured rock system, and eventually the passage to reducing conditions at depth.
The end product will be an improved capability to integrate processes controlling geochemical evolution and transport of fluids with models involving chemical retardation of dissolved trace element species. This capability will be used to develop, refine, and test models and mathematical methods that will be used to describe the expected behaviour of radionuclides in fractured heterogeneous rock. The project will increase substantially the confidence of performance assessment calculations of nuclear waste repositories in crystalline bedrock, now under considerable debate.
Continued participation of personnel involved in the earlier studies (mainly Finnish teams) will be supported by experienced partners from Sweden, Spain, France, United Kingdom and Germany, thus providing an attractive opportunity for a European collaborative effort.
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Coordinator
02150 Espoo
Finland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.