GEOHYDROLOGIC DATA FOR TEST HOLE USW UZ-6s, YUCCA … · Degree Celsius (OC) may be converted to degree Fahrenheit (OF) by using the following equation: OF = 915(OC)+32. Degree Fahrenheit

1-1I ,-

GEOHYDROLOGIC DATA FOR TEST HOLEUSW UZ-6s, YUCCA MOUNTAIN,N NYE COUNTY, NEVADA

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Open-File Report 93-60

Prepared in cooperation with theNEVADA FIELD OFFICE of theU.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY underInteragency Agreement DE- A108-78ET44802

Edited by: Martha A. CrawfordManuscript preparation by: Alene J. BroganIlustrations by: Sharon M. Powers

Geohydrologic Data from Test HoleUSW UZ-6s, Yucca Mountain,Nye County, Nevada

by Carole L. Loskot


Open-File Report 93-60

Prepared in cooperation with the

NEVADA FIELD OFFICE of the

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY under

Interagency Agreement DE-AI08-78ET44802

Denver, Colorado1993

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary


Robert M. Hirsch, Acting Director

The use of trade, product, industry, or firm names is for descuiptive purposes only and does not implyendorsement by the U.S. Government.

For additional information write to:

Chief, Hydrologic Investigations ProgramYucca Mountain Project BranchU.S. Geological SurveyBox 25046, MS 421Denver Federal CenterDenver, CO 80225

Copies of this report can be purchased from:

U.S. Geological SurveyEarth Science Information CenterOpen-File Reports SectionBox 25286, MS 517Denver Federal CenterDenver, CO 80225

CONTENTS

Abstract ................................................................................................................................................................................. 1Introducton .................................................................................... 1

Purpose and scope ......... ........................................................................... 1Location and geohydrologic settng ................................................................................... 3

Drilling and casing methods .................................................................................... 3Coring methods ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4Geology and lithology ................................................................................... 4Sample collection and handling............................................................................................................................................ .6

Drill cuttings.............................................................................................................................................................. .6Rotary core ........ ........................................................................... 6

Sample testing procedures and results .................................................................................... 7Gravimetric water-content measurements .................................................................................... 7Water-potential measurements................................................................................................................................... .7Bulk- and gain-density measurements .................................................................................... 21

Summary ............................................................................................................................................................................... 25Selected references................................................................................................................................................................ .25

FIGURES

1. Map showing location of test holes USW UZ-6s and USW UZ-6 . ....................................................................... 22. Schematic diagram showing drilling system used for test hole USW UZ-6s ........................................................ 3

3-6. Graphs showing:3. Rotary coring drill rate and degree of welding at test hole USW UZ-6s .................... ................................. 54. Gravimetric water-content measurements from coarse-size fraction drill cuttings and

composite core from test hole USW UZ-6s ................................................................................. 185. Water-potential measurements from coarse-size fraction drill cuttings and

composite core from test hole USW UZ-6s ................................................................................ 206. Bulk- and grain-density measurements of rotary core from test hole USW UZ-6s ..................................... 24

TABLES

1. Stratigraphic units penetrated by test hole USW UZ-6s ....................................... .................................. 42. Rotary-core record for test hole USW UZ-6s .......................................................................... 83. Results of laboratory analyses for gravimetric water content and water potential of coarse drill

cuttings from test hole USW UZ-6s ......................................................................... 104. Results of laboratory analyses for gravirnetric water content and water potential of composite

core samples from test hole USW UZ-6s ......................................................................... 165. Summary of relation of gravimetric water-content measurements of composite core from

test hole USW UZ-6s to lithology and degree of welding................................................................................ 196. Summary of relation of water-potential measurements of composite core from test hole USW UZ-6s

to lithology and degree of welding ......................................................................... 217. Results of laboratory analyses for bulk- and grain-density measurements of rotary-core samples from

test hole USW UZ-6s ......................................................................... 228. Summary of relation of bulk- and grain-density measurements of composite core from

test hole USW UZ-6s to lithology and degree of welding................................................................................ 23

CONTENTS 1II

CONVERSION FACTORS

Multiply By To obtain

gramn per cubic centimeter 0.03613 pound per cubic inchkilometer (Ian) 0.6214 mile

kilopascal (Kpa) 0.1450 pounds per square inchkilopascal (Kpa) 0.01 bar (14.5 pounds per square inch)

liter (L) 1.057 quartmeter (m) 3281 foot

meter per hour (rn/) 3.281 feet per hourmilliliter (mL) 0.06102 cubic inch

millimeter (mm) 0.03937 inch

Degree Celsius (OC) may be converted to degree Fahrenheit (OF) by using the following equation:OF = 915(OC)+32.

Degree Fahrenheit (OF) may be converted to degree Celsius (OC) by using the following equation:°C = 5/9(8F-32).

The following terms and abbreviations also are used in this report:

gram per gram (gig)microvolt (jiv)molality (m)

Ni

Geohydrologic Data from Test Hole USW UZ-6s,Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada

ByCarole L. Loskot

Abstract

As part of the investigation of Yucca Moun-tain, Nevada, as a potential site for storing high-level radioactive wastes in an underground minedgeologic repository, the U.S. Geological Survey,in cooperation with the U.S. Department ofEnergy, in 1982, began drilling a series of testholes in and near the southwestern part of theNevada Test Site to determine the geologic andhydrologic characteristics of the area. Test holeUSW UZ-6s is part of that series of test holes, andthis report presents data obtained from test holeUSW UZ-6s. The data include those from drillingoperations, lithology, coring, and laboratory anal-yses of hydrologic properties, which includegravimetric water content, water potential, andbulk- and grain-density values.

The gravimetric water content of thedensely welded section of the TIva Canyon Mem-ber of the Paintbrush Tuff averages 0.027 gram pergram for test hole USW UZ-6s; water potentialaverages -7,200 kilo-pascals; gravimetric watercontent of the moderately to densely welded tuffsrange from 0.054 gram per grain for the Tiva Can-yon Member of the Paintbrush Tuff to 0.027 gramper gram for the Topopah Spring Member of thePaintbrush Tuff; and water potentials range from-6,700 to -3,400 kilopascals. Gravimetric watercontent for the partially welded to unnamed bed-ded tuffs average 0.123,0.106, and 0.085 gram pergram for the Tiva Canyon Member, the unnamedbedded tuffs, and the Topopah Spring Member intest hole USW UZ-6s; average water potentials fortheseunitsare-1,700,-480, and-820kilopascals.

INTRODUCTION

Yucca Mountain in southwestern Nevada (fig. 1)is being studied as a potential site for storing high-levelradioactive wastes in an underground mined geologicrepository. In 1982, the U.S. Geological Survey, in

cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy underinteragency agreement DE-AI08-78ET44802, began aseries of investigations to provide information aboutthe geology and hydrology of the area. These investi-gations are a part of the Yucca Mountain Project(YMP), formerly known as Nevada Nuclear WasteStorage Investigations, (NNWSI).

The principal method of investigation has beentest drilling. A series of relatively shallow (160 m orless) and deep (160 to 770 m) unsaturated-zone testholes have been (or are projected to be) drilled at YuccaMountain in rocks of volcanic and volcanic-clastic ori-gin. The main objectives of this unsaturated-zone test-hole program are: (1) To determine the flux of watermoving through the units of the nonwelded and beddedtuff in the unsaturated rock; (2) to determine the verti-cal distribution of water content, water potential, andother geohydrologic characteristics in the rock unitspenetrated; and (3) to monitor changes in test-holecharacteristics with time.

Test hole USW UZ-6s (hereinafter referred to asUZ-6s) is the sixth test hole in the series of unsaturated-zone test holes. Test hole UZ-6s was primarily drilledto provide an uncased zone for instrumentation becausethe upper 80.8 m of a nearby deeper test hole(USW UZ-6) had to be cased off during drilling. Thiszone was in the highly fractured, densely welded TivaCanyon Member of the Paintbrush Tluff (Whitfield andothers, 1992).

Purpose and Scope

This report presents geologic and hydrologicdata collected from UZ-6s in 1985 during the drillingand coring of this test hole. These data were used topartially fulfill the second objective of the shallow,unsaturated-zone test-hole program. The report alsopresents data for methods for drilling, coring, samplecollection and handling, and testing. The laboratoryresults of tests on the drill cuttings and cores obtainedare included. Work done in UZ-6s was in accordancewith procedures established by the YMP QualityAssurance Program.

Abstract 1

I NEVADA I

U Cityo | 37°00'

Base from U.S. Geological Survey1:250,000, Death Valley, California:Nevada, 1970

0 5 10 KILOMETERSI . , X .

0 5 10 MILESFigure 1. Location of test holes USW UZ-6s and USW UZ-6.

2 Geohydrologic Data from Test Hole USW UZ-6s, Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada

Location and Geohydrologic Setting

Drill pipeTest hole UZ-6s is located in Nye County,

Nevada, approximately 145 km northwest of Las Vegasnear the Nevada Test Site. Coordinates of the well siteare based on the Nevada State Coordinate System,Nevada Central Zone. The coordinates of UZ-6s areN 231,609.1 and E 170,085.5 m. Test hole UZ-6s islocated on the crest of Yucca Mountain at an altitude of1,508.52 m, approximately 95 m west of test holeUSW-UZ-6. Drilling and coring of UZ-6s started onApril 23, 1985, and was completed June 19, 1985.Work was suspended from June 21 to August 26, 1985.From August 30, 1985, to September 6, 1985, the testhole was cleaned out and the casing removed.

Test hole UZ-6s is drilled into the PaintbrushTuffof Miocene age to a depth of 158.2 m. The mem-bers of the Paintbrush Tuff penetrated, in descendingorder, are the Tiva Canyon Member, an unnamed bed-ded tuff, and the Topopah Spring Member.

DRILLING AND CASING METHODS

Drilling, coring, and casing methods used inUZ-6s are described in detail by Hammermeister andothers (1985); therefore, these methods are only brieflydescribed in this report. These authors also havereported that these methods minimally disturb thewater content of the formation rock, core, and, in someplaces, drill cuttings.

Drilling and casing of UZ-6s was conductedusing the Odex 165 drilling system, which uses air asthe drilling fluid. The method involves percussion-hammer drilling and casing driving that are conductedsimultaneously downhole. A pilot bit and an eccentricreamer are used to drill a hole slightly larger than theoutside diameter (O.D.) of the casing. The percussionhammer impacts on the casing through a casing shoeattached to the bottom joint of the casing (fig. 2). Thus,the casing is advanced as the hole is drilled deeper.Drill cuttings are returned to the surface through theinside of the casing, thereby minimizing disturbance tothe test-hole walls. Compressed air is injected into thecasing through the drill pipe to aid in removal of drillcuttings.

A sulfur hexafluoride tracer (SF6) was injectedinto test hole UZ-6s during drilling and coring from thesurface to a depth of 88.4 m, and bromochlorofluoro-methane (CBrCIF2) was injected from 88.4 m to thetotal depth of the borehole at 158.2 m. Subsequent gassampling in the borehole will determine the presence orabsence of atmospheric contamination caused by thedrilling and coring.

I

Guide sleeve

Impact energytransmitted here tothe casing tubes

Guide

Pilot bit

Figure 2. Drilling system used for test hole USW UZ-6s(from Hammerneister and others, 1985, p. 512).

DRILLiNG AND CASING METHODS 3

The casing for UZ-6s had a 194-mm O.D. and a177-mm inside diameter (I.D.). Each casing sectionwas 6.1-rm long. The drill hole was 212 mm in diame-ter. Test hole UZ-6s was drilled, cored, and cased to adepth of 120.7 m when the pilot bit almost separatedfrom the casing shoe. Because the contact with thelower vitrophyre zone of the Tiva Canyon Member hadbeen penetrated, coring continued to a total depth of158.2 m. Test hole UZ-6s then was continuouslyreamed and cased to a depth of 150.6 m when the pilotbit completely separated from the casing shoe. The bitwas recovered; reaming and casing ceased at thisdepth. As the casing was being pulled out, it separatedat a depth of 79.2 m. Only the upper section wasremoved at this time. Between August 30, 1985, andSeptember 6, 1985, the upper section of the casing wasreinserted, and the hole was cleaned out. The lowersection of the casing was then hooked, and the upperand the lower sections of casing were removed.

CORING METHODS

A wireline, split-tube core barrel was used toobtain rotary cores from the hard, densely welded tuffs.

The core barrel had a 61-mm l.D. and was 1.52 m inlength, modified by Norton Christensen, Inc., for aircoring. Surface-set diamond bits were used to core thedensely welded tuffs and tungsten-carbide, face-dis-charge bits were used to core nonwelded and beddedtuffs that were relatively soft and poorly sorted. Thesebits were a pilot-type that had staggered teeth. A totalof 46.10 m was cored from UZ-6s with 84-percentrecovery.

The drill rate for rotary coring in the differentrock units penetrated by UZ-6s is shown in figure 3.The densely welded tuffs penetrated by UZ-6s gener-ally were cored at a rate of about 0.25 to about0.50 m/hr. The coring rates in the nonwelded and bed-ded units generally ranged from about 1 to 10 rnhr.

GEOLOGY AND LITHOLOGY

The rocks penetrated by UZ-6s are of volcanicand volcanic-clastic origin. No alluvial-colluvial mate-rial was encountered in this test hole. A summary ofthe stratigraphic units penetrated is provided in table 1.Ash-flow and ash-fall tuffs, which comprise the TivaCanyon Member, the unnamed bedded tuffs, and the

Table 1. Stratigraphlc units penetrated by test hole USW UZ-6s

Michael Chornack. U.S. Geological Survey, written commun, 19851

Geologic formation Thickness of Intervals Depth to bottom of Interval(meters) (meters)

Paintbrush Tuff (Miocene age)Tiva Canyon Member 116.4 1116.4(upper unit)

Tiva Canyon Member (lower 7.9 1124.3vitrophyre)

Tiva Canyon Member (shardy 6.9 131.2base)

Unnamed bedded tuff 9.0 140.2

Topopah Spring Member (vitric 7.1 1147.3unit)

Topopah Spring Member 10.9 158.2(caprock)

'Estimated contct

4 Geohydrologlo Data from Test Hole USW UZ-Ga, Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada

0

20

0

W 60cc - L7Cw

TIVA CANYON MEMBER 0wu (densely welded) U.

Z 80

I-~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I

0100 I-

ii..TIVA CANYON MEMBER120 _ r (moderately to densely weldedl

y yy TIVA CANYON MEMBER(parTalV ly welded to nonwelded)

- uJ UNNAMED BEDDED TUFF

140 TOPOPAH SPRING MEMBER- L o s o s (partially welded)

TOPOPAH4 SPRING MEMBER(densely to moderately welded)

1600 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 1 12 13 14 15 16

a

0

z

z CORING DRILL RATE, IN METERS PER HOURFigure 3. Rotary coring drill rate and degree of welding at test hole USW UZ-ft.

Topopah Spring Member of the Paintbrush Tuff For-mation of Miocene age, are the predominant rock typesin this section. The tuffs exhibit various degrees ofwelding, ranging from nonwelded to densely welded.The upper unit of the 7lva Canyon Member of thePaintbrush Tuff consists of a devitrified tuff that isdensely welded and underlain by a lower vitrophyrezone that is moderately to densely welded, whichgrades into a shardy base that is partially welded tononwelded. The portion of the Topopah Spring Mem-ber of the Paintbrush Tuff penetrated in UZ-6s consistsof a thin, partially welded upper vitric unit, which isunderlain by a caprock that is moderately to denselywelded.

SAMPLE COLLECTION AND HANDLING

Sample collection and handling followedapproved YMP quality-assurance procedures. All pro-cedures were designed to minimize the disturbance ofthe water content of the samples from the time the sam-ples were removed from the test hole until gravimetricwater-content and water-potential measurements weremade.

Drill Cuttings

Drill cuttings were collected for the determina-tion of a lithologic record as well as hydrologic proper-ties. Cuttings returned to the surface through the casingduring drilling were diverted through a flexible hose toa dry cyclone separator located nearby. After a pre-scribed interval of the test hole had been drilled, thegate valve on the bottom of the separator was opened,and the cuttings fell into the collection containers. Thecyclone separator was emptied at each collection inter-val to avoid any mixing of samples. If the cuttingswere moist, a hammer was used to loosen the cuttingsoff the inside walls of the separator. Drilling generallydid not stop during sample collection.

A 0.5-L sample of cuttings was collected forlithologic description at the same time that 1 or 2 Lof cuttings were collected at each sampling interval forlaboratory measurements of water content and waterpotential. If the cuttings consisted mainly of fine-grained material, 2 L were collected. The cuttings wereplaced in l-L glass mason jars. These jars were cappedimmediately with air-tight lids, taken into the onsitelaboratory as soon as possible, and placed inside ahumidified glove box.

Drill cuttings from UZ-6s were collected at0.6-m intervals from a depth of 2.1 to 150.3 m. Thedrill cuttings were processed inside the humidified

glove box. Coarse-particle-size fraction of drill cut-tings from UZ-6s were used for water-content andwater-potential measurements. If an insufficient vol-ume of coarse cuttings was collected for water-contentmeasurements and for water-potential measurements,fine- or composite-particle-size cuttings were used forthe water-content measurements. Coarse samples weredefined as those cuttings that would not pass through ascreen that had about 1.6-mm openings, whereas finesamples were defined as those cuttings that would passthrough this size opening. Samples taken directly fromthe jars were designated as composite samples. Coarsecuttings were always collected for water-potential mea-surements because only a small sample was necessaryfor testing. Samples for gravimetric water contentwere placed in preweighed 420-mL moisture cans andimmediately weighed. Samples for water-potentialmeasurements were placed in small glass jars (approx-imately 120 mL or less), capped, taped, labeled, sealedin wax, and stored at room temperature (about 20 to25C) until the measurements could be made.

Rotary Core

Test hole UZ-6s was continuously cored from120.7 to 158.2 m before the hole was reamed and thecasing set at a depth of 150.6 m. A 0.61-m core gener-ally was collected from every 6.1-m interval drilled inthe moderately to densely welded tuffs in UZ-6s,beginning at a depth of 23.16 to 120.70 m. Afterobtaining the 0.61-m core, the hole was reamed and the6.1-m-long casing inserted. In highly fractured zonesof the densely welded tuff, shorter cores or no coreswere occasionally collected due to poor recovery.

Cores from the partially welded, nonwelded, andbedded tuff units beginning at 120.70 to 158.19 m wereobtained using a 1 .52-m-long HWD4 core barrel with asplit inner tube. The top one-half of the split inner tubewas removed in the humidified glove box. The naturalfractures of the core were described, and a preliminarylithologic description was made. For each 1.52-m-longcore, a 91-mm-long segment of core from near the bot-tom and another from near the midsection of the coregenerally were removed for gravimetric water-contentand water-potential measurements. If the core washighly fragmented, more samples were obtained forgravimetric water-content and water-potential mea-surements that did not require solid pieces of core;solid pieces of core were required, however, for otherhydrologic testing. Whenever possible, one1.52-m-long core segment that was relatively unfrag-mented was taken from each one-half of the core formatric-potential measurements, and one additional

S Geohydrologlo Data from Test Hole USW UZ-6s, Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada

91-mm-long core segment that was relatively unfrag-mented was taken for permeability-related tests.Finally, a 91-mm-long section of core was selectedfrom most core runs for the extraction and geochemicalanalysis of pore water (Mower and others, 1990). Allcore segments, except for those used for gravimetricwater-content and water-potential measurements, wereplaced in split polyvinyl (PVC) liners, capped, taped,labeled, waxed, and stored at about 20 to 25'C forfuture hydrologic testing.

Core that was designated for gravimetric water-content measurements was put in a preweighed mois-ture can. Core to be used for water-potential measure-ments was broken into small fragments inside ahumidified glove box, placed in a 120-mL, or smaller,container, capped, taped, labeled, and waxed for latermeasurements. All cored intervals and recovered coresfor UZ-6s are listed in table 2.

SAMPLE TESTING PROCEDURES ANDRESULTS

0.027 g/g for gravimetric water content, and the mod-erately to densely welded part averaged 0.054 gIg.

The partially to nonwelded part of the Tiva Can-yon Member of the Paintbrush Tuff averaged0.123 gIg. The unnamed bedded tuff unit had an aver-age gravimetric water content of 0.106 gIg. TheTopopah Spring Member of the Paintbrush Tuff is thedeepest tuff unit penetrated; the gravimetric water con-tent of the partially welded vitric subunit of this unitaveraged 0.085 gIg, then decreased to an average of0.027 g/g in the densely to moderately welded caprock.

Test hole UZ-6s was continuously cored from theinterval of 120.7 to 158.2 m before the hole wasreamed. The gravimetric water content of cuttingsfrom this interval averaged 0.058 g/g, which is lowerthan the gravimetric water content of core, which aver-aged 0.087 gIg.

After determination of the gravimetric watercontent, the dried core samples were placed in papercartons and labeled. These samples were later tested byHolmes & Narver Materials Testing Laboratory, Inc., atMercury, Nev., for measurements of bulk density andgrain density.

Gravimetric Water-Content MeasurementsWater-Potential Measurements

Gravimetric water-content measurements weredone onsite at the U.S. Geological Survey field labora-tory, using standard gravimetric oven-drying methods(Gardner, 1965) following approved YMP quality-assurance procedures. Moisture cans of known weightwere filled with drill cuttings or core and immediatelyweighed. These moisture cans were weighed againafter baking in an oven at 105'C for a minimum of18 hours. Gravimetric water content, in gram pergram, equals the water lost through drying, divided bythe weight of the dried sample. Results of laboratoryanalyses for gravimetric water content for UZ-6s cut-tings and core are listed in tables 3 and 4. The depthsof cuttings listed in table 3 represent the midpoints, oraverage depths, of the sample-collection intervals ofthe drill cuttings. Gravimetric water-content measure-ments of composite core samples and coarse-size frac-tions of drill cuttings for UZ-6s are shown in figure 4.

The gravimetric water content of the volcanictuffs are related to the degree of welding. A summaryof gravimetric water-content measurements of com-posite core samples related to geologic formation anddegree of welding is listed in table 5. Only the coredata for UZ-6s are tabulated because the cores are lessdisturbed than the drill cuttings and, therefore, areassumed to be more representative of in-situ hydro-logic conditions. The densely welded part of the flvaCanyon Member of the Paintbrush Tuff averaged

Water potential is defined as the sum of matricand osmotic potentials. Water potentials were mea-sured using a Richards' SC-10 thermocouple psy-chrometer and an NT-3 nanovoltmeter. The SC-10psychrometer is a stationary device that has ten rotatingchambers into which sample cups are placed. TheRichards' method (Richards and Ogata, 1958) is basedon dipping a ceramic bead attached at the thermocouplejunction into distilled water, then letting it reach vaporequilibrium while positioned over a sample. Theceramic bead is located inside the SC- 10 psychrometer.The rate of evaporation of distilled water on theceramic bead is measured as voltage-output readings,generally for 10 minutes, on the nanovoltmeter whilevapor equilibrium occurs. Drier samples of more thanapproximately -25 bars generally reach equilibrium inless than 10 minutes; moister samples of approximately-25 bars or less generally require 10 minutes. Voltageoutputs are recorded at 1-minute intervals.

Two SC-10 psychrometers were used for mea-suring water potentials of rock samples. Sample cupswere placed in the ten rotating chambers of the SC-10psychrometer. Three of the ten sample cups (cups 1through 3) were lined with filter paper and wetted withthree of six calibration standards of known molality;six of the sample cups (cups 4 through 9) were filledwith cuttings or core samples; the last sample cup

SAMPLE TESTING PROCEDURES AND RESULTS 7

Table 2 Rotary-core record for test hole USW UZ-6s

[A, gSvimetric water-content, water-potential, bulk-density, and grain-density measurements; B. matric-potential measurements; C, D, E,permeability-related and miscellaneous measurements;-, no data. The core intervals and lengths were measured to thc nearest 0.1 foot. orapproximately plus or minus 0.015 meters core intervals are listed to plus or minus 0.005 meter for convenience and as a result of conversion firoinch-pound units.)

Core run numbert

1234567

89

1011121314is1617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738394041

Cored Interval(metes)

23.16-23.77

2926-29.87

35.36-35.9641.45-42.0647.55-48.16

53.64-53.9559.74-60.35

65.83-66.4478.02-78.6384.12-84.7390.22-90.52

90.52-90.5896.31-96.92

102.41-103.02108.50-109.11114.60-115.21120.69-122.22

12222-123.74

123.74-125.27125.27-126.79126.79-128.31128.31-129.84129.84-130.75130.75-131.97131.97-133.50133.50-134.72

134.72-136.24136.24-137.76137.76-139.29139.29-140.B1140.81-142.03

142.03-143.55143.55-144.77144.77-146.30146.30-146.60146.60-147.21147.21-148.43

148.43-149.19149.19-149.50149.50-150.87150.B7-152.39

Cored length(meters)

0.610.610.600.610.610.310.610.610.610.610.300.06

0.610.610.610.611.531.521.531.521.521.530.911.221.531.22

1.521.521.531.52

1.221.521.221.530.300.611.22

0.760.311.37

1.52

Core recovered(meters)

0.490.610.610.610.610.300.610.610.610.610.27

o.o0

0.580.550.430.531.521.521.521.521.521.220.611.521.221.520.760.55

1.28

1.070.980.640.460.00

0.060.611.040.640.351.371.52

Laborator tests

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S Geohydrologla Data from Test Hole USW UZ-8s, Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada

Table 2. Rotary-core record for test hole USW UZ.6s-Contlnued

Care run numberl Cored Interval Cored length Core recovered tCore nun number (meters) (meters) (meters)laotryou

42 152.39-153.92 1.53 1.07 ABCDE43 153.92-155.14 1.22 152 ABCDE44 155.14-156.66 1.52 1.52 ABCDE45 156.66-158.1 152 1.52 ABCDE

'Core runs 1-16 were drilled in the upper unit of the Tiva Canyon Member, a densely welded unit; cores were selectively collectedfrom this unit.

(cup 10) was filled with distilled water. The calibrationstandards were measured concurrently with the cut-tings or core samples to compensate for the zero drift ofthe nanovoltmeter amplifier due to change in tempera-ture. The calibration standards used, and their approx-imate kilopascal equivalents, were: 0.02 m (molality),-100 Kpa; 0.05 m, -230 Kpa; 0.1 m, -460 kPa; 0.4 m,-1,800 kPa; 0.8 m, -3,700 kPa; and 1.5 m, -7,200 kPa.

The same calibration standards were not used forall cuttings and core samples. As much as possible,samples that had similar water contents, based ongravimetric water-content measurements, were pro-cessed together. Three calibration standards then wereselected within a range that spanned the expected pos-sible water-potential range of the six cuttings or coresamples in the SC-10 psychrometer.

The SC-10 psychrometer sample cups are loadedwith calibration standards and rock samples in ahumidified glove box to minimize evaporation. Theten sample cups then are placed into the ten samplechambers of the SC-10 psychrometer. Samples in theSC-10 psychrometer are allowed to equilibrate for aminimum of 30 minutes before any measurements aremade. All measurements were made inside the humid-ified glove box, at a relatively constant room temper-ature, generally at 20 to 25"C.

The procedure for taking water-potential mea-surements begins by first taking a temperature readingfrom the nanovoltmeter of the calibration standard inthe first chamber (cup 1). The NT-3 nanovoltmeter, byDecagon Devices, is designed to measure both resis-tance and temperature. The sample cups in the cham-bers are rotated, and the ceramic bead of thethermocouple is wetted in the distilled water (cup 10).The samples are rotated back until the thermocouple islocated again over the first chamber (cup 1). As long as

10 minutes are allowed for vapor equilibrium to occur;voltage outputs are recorded at 1-minute intervals.Another temperature reading is then taken. The cali-bration chambers are rotated, and the ceramic bead iswetted again in the distilled water (cup 10). The cali-bration chambers are then rotated until the thermocou-ple is located over the second chamber (cup 2).Voltage-output readings are again taken at 1-minuteintervals for as long as 10 minutes. This continues untilvoltage-output readings have been recorded for all thecalibration standards and the rock samples (cups 1through 9).

At the end of 10 minutes of recording the voltageoutputs, an averaged representative voltage-outputreading is selected based on the evidence of a plateau.This plateau in voltage-output readings occurs whenthe system is in equilibrium, and little change is evidentin the voltage-output readings. Once sufficient evapo-ration has occurred, the meniscus of the water on theceramic bead loses its cohesiveness, evaporation pro-ceeds more quickly, and the voltage-output readingsbegin dropping off rapidly. For moister samples ofmore than -2,000 kPa, the plateaus tend to be more evi-dent during the last 5 minutes of the voltage-outputreadings and tend to last longer, for very moist samplesof more than -400 kPa, the plateau drop-off may not benoted in the 10 minutes of voltage-output readings. Fordrier samples of less than -5,000 kPa, the plateaus tendto occur during the first S minutes of voltage-outputreadings and may only last for a couple of minutesbefore the readings begin dropping off rapidly. Verydry samples with readings of less than -10,000 kPagenerally level off sufficiently fast that the voltage-out-put reading recorded at 1 minute is considered to be theplateau.


Table 3. Results of laboratory analyses for gravimetric water content and water potential of coarse drillcuttings frorn test hole USW UZ-6s

1-, no datal

Depth of midpoint of sample(meters)

2.12.73A44.04.65.25.86.47.07.68.28.89.4

10.1

10.5

10.811.311.912.513.113.714.314.915.516.216.817.217.718.318.719.219.820.421.021.622.322.923.524.124.725.325.9

Gravimetric water content(gram per gram)

0.0260.028

0.0210.0040.0120.0200.0130.0150.0250.0180.0260.0330.0420.0320.0220.0250.0300.0310.0310.0280.0440.0520.0370.0420.0390.0230.0240.0270.0300.0340.0310.0300.0290.0290.0280.0290.0220.0270.0330.0360.036

Water potential(idlopascals)

-790-630

-670-25,000

-8,200-2,400-4,700-2,600-1,100

-2,700-2,100

-940-420-750

-2,600-1,600

-740-710-520-390-390-570

-1,300-790

-8,300-2,900-3,400-3,000-2,100-1,300

-2,400-2,600-2,700-2,300-3,800-2,800-5,800-2,500-1,400

-950-1,500

10 Geohydrologkc Data from Test Hole USW UZ-Gs, Yucca Mountain, Nys County, Nevada

Table 3. Results of laboratory analyses for gravimetric water content and water potential of coarse drillcuttings from test hole USW UZ-6s-Continued

Depth of midpoint of sample Gravlmetric water content Water potentIalDepthi of midpolnt of sample

(meters)

26.5

27.127.728.329.0

29.630.230.831A

32.032.633.233.834.4

35.135.736.336.937.538.138.739.3

39.940.5

41.141.842.443.344.244.845.446.046.6

47.247.948549.1

49.650.2

50.951.5

52.152.7


0.017

0.0300.0330.0280.0300.0310.0370.0350.0400.0450.0490.0460.0440.047

0.0480.0480.0490.0440.0440.0430.0410.0440.0430.041

0.0430.028

0.0270.0310.0330.0340.0340.0290.0250.0310.0170.0210.013

0.0290.0350.032

0.0310.029

Water potentialkldopascals)

-780

-1,000

-1,300-1,600

-1,200-2,900-1,100

-1,600-820

-950-720-760-900-98046S460-630-740-710400-810-40-710-790-610

-3,000-3,900-1,800-1,100-1=00

-1,300-2,900-4,100

-1,9004,700-2,300

-15,000

-8,400

-7,500-1,300-1,600

-2,600-3,100


Table 3. Results of laboratory analyses for gravimetric water content and water potential of coarse drillcuttings from test hole USW UZ-6s--Gontinued

Gravimatrie water content Water potentialDepth of midpoint of sample

(meters)

53.353.9

54.655.2

55.8

56.457.057.658.258.859.460.060.761.3

61.962.563.163.764.364.9

65.566.1

66.867.4

68.068.6

69.269.8

70.471.0

71.672.272.873.5

74.1

74.775.375.9

76.577.177.778.378.9

Gravimetrie water content(gram per gram)

0.033

0.0190.0250.0250.028

0.0250.0270.033

0.0350.0330.0330.017

0.0190.0280.0270.0280.0340.0250.0290.0280.0270.0220.026

0.0250.0250.027

0.0240.027

0.0230.0260.0260.0260.026

0.0320.0360.034

0.033

0.030

0.0270.0280.0250.0160.017

Water potential(kilopascals)

-1,400

-5,700-4,3004,100

-2.800

-3,600-3,100-2,000-1,900

-2,900-2,300-5,900-5,200-3,900-4,500-4,200-2,000-5,8004,700-4,400

-2,800-6500-3,200

-3,800-3,600-2,900-3,400-2,900

-9,0004,400-3,2004,000

-3,700-1,300

-670-830

-1,200-1,300

-2,500-2,0004,100

-8,200-9,200

12 Gechydrologle Data from Test Hole USW UZ-Bs, Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada


Depth of midpoint of sample Gravlmetrlc water content Water potentialDBPth of midpoint of sample

(meters)

79.680.280.881.482.082.683.283.884.485.085.686.386.9

87.588.188.789.3

89.990.5

91.191.792.493.093.694.294.895.496.096.697.297.898.599.1

99.7100.3100.9101.5102.1102.7103.3103.9104.5105.2

Gmvlmstrlc wvater content(gram per gram)

0.0180.019

0.0200.019

0.019

0.0230.0210.0180.0110.0120.0160.0200.024

0.023

0.0230.0240.0240.0230.0150.0160.0170.0170.0160.0180.0170.019

0.0170.0180.015

0.0150.0150.019

0.0180.0180.0170.0180.0170.0170.0130.0140.008

0.0060.012


-10,000

-9,800-8,500-6600-9,600-,100-8,200-9,700

-16,000-9,50-8,900-5,100-3,800-5,400-6,700-4,700-5,600-6,900-9,900-9,100-6,900-8,300-9,500-5,000-6,700-8,100-6,800-5,30-7,900

-11,000-14,000-12,000-12,000-12,000-12,000

-9,100-11,000-12,000-21,W00-15,000-24,000-30,000-18,000


Table 3 Results of laboratory analyses for gravimetric water content and water potential of coarse drillcuttings from test hole USW UZ-6s-Continued

Gravlmetric water contentDepth of midpoint of sample

(meters)

105.8106.4

107.0107.6108.2

108.8109.4110.0

110.6111.3

111.9

112.5113.1113.7114.3114.9115.5116.1116.7

117.3118.0118.6119.2

119.8120.4

121.0121.6122.2

122.8

123.4124.1124.7125.3125.9126.5127.1127.7128.3128.9

129.5130.1130.8131.4

Gravlmetric water contentS(gram per gram)

0.011

0.011

0.011

0.009

0.0050.0050.0070.010

0.0130.011

0.0050.0120.0120.010

0.012

0.0120.010

0.0140.013

0.011

0.0090.0130.011

0.0090.010

0.082

0.0680.0520.0400.040

0.0500.0740.0800.0880.0930.070

0.0700.0600.0680.0730.073

Water potential(Idlopascala)

-16,000-23,000-19,000-37,000-42,00049,00043,000-35,000-21,000-15,000-30.000-20,000-18,000-25,000-19,000-18,000-27,000-23,000-31,000-32,000-27,00047,000

-54,000-52,000-47,000

-31,000

-27,000-31,00042,000

-38,000-33,000-23,000-22,000-18,000-17,000-16,000-12,000-41,000-36,000-80,000-55,000

14 Geohydrologkc Data from Test Hole USW UZ-6s, Yucca MountaIn, Nye County, Nevada


Depth of midpoint of sampleDopth of midpoint of sample

(meters)

132.0132.6

133.2133.8134.4

135.0135.6136.2136.9137.5

138.1138.7139.3

139.9

140.5141.1141.7142.3143.0

143.6144.2144.8145.4

146.0146.6147.2147.8148.4

2149.0

149.7

150.3'Fine drill cutngs2 Copoite drill cutigs


0.166

0.124

0.0820.0550.101

0.096

0.1020.0740.0820.070

0.063

20.O07

0.010

0.064

0.0500.0920.081

0.081

0.0270.0270.0090.008

0.0170.025

0.0300.0240.0090.0110.0090.008

Water potential(Idlopascals)

-5,600

-9,100

-7,000-5,600

-16,000-3,900

-1,300

-,500-23,000-14,000

-59,000-91,000-45,000-64,000

-57,000

-44.000-22,000-24,000-13,000

-39,000-57,000-68,00040,000

-66,000-69,000-73,000-40,000-54,000

-51,000-57,000-54,000


Table 4. Results of laboratory analyses for gravimetric water content and water potential of compositecore samples from test hole USW UZ-6s

[-. indicates no data)

Depth Interval(meters)

23.26-23.3223.32-23.4129.41-29.5035.36-35.9641.45-41.5741.97-42.0648.01-48.1653.77-53.8460.26-60.3566.08-66.1778.02-78.14B4.12-84.7390.22-90.4996.71-96.90

102.82-102.96108.72-108.81114.60-114.73120.93-121.10122.53-122.62122.93-122.99123.84-123.93124.45-124.54125.27-125.39126.13-126.22127.10-127.19127.86-127.96128.32-128.44128.93-129.02129.84-130.12130.58-130.67131.37-131.46131.98-132.10132.47-132.59133.29-133.41133.84-133.96134.84-134.97135.39-135.48136.61-136.79137.95-138.07138.47-138.59139.39-139.48139.78-139.90

Gravimetrlc water content(gram per gram)

0.0330.0320.0340.0400.0340.0350.0300.0340.0260.0310.0190.0220.0180.0220.0190.0170.0140.0400.0590.0500.0680.1030.1400.1090.1600.1360.1260.1200.1140.0980.2050.0760.0940.1040.1190.1490.1070.0580.050

0.0570.1430.107

Water potential(kllopascals)

-1,500-1,500-1,000-1,100-3,100-3,800-4,900-5.400-3,500-5,200-7,700-6,100

-13,000-11,000-18,000-16,000-20,000

-7,900-3,600-9,300-5.900-7,SO

-710-3,000

-720-580-580-580-550-500-530-480-480-600

-410-360-320-310-280-280-780-960

tS Geohydrologle Data from Test Hole USW UZ-6s, Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada

Table 4. Results of laboratory analyses for gravimotrtc water content and water potential of compositecore samples from test hole USW UZ-6s-Continued

Depth Interval(meters)

140.94-141.06141.61-141.70142.19-142.28

143.90-144.0214630-146.36146.97-147.1614734-147.46148.10-148.19148.44-148.56148.96-149.08149.15-149.29149.50-149.60150.75-150.88150.88-151.06151.97-152.03152.40-152.55153.25-153.31153.77-153.92155.05-155.14155.36-155.48156.09-156.18

157.31-157.46157.76-157.86

Gravlmetric water content(gram per gram)

0.0810.2090.0770.0470.0620.0320.010

0.0200.0180.0160.019

0.0280.0150.0260.0320.0310.0340.031

0.0350.0340.0360.0400.038


-1,200

-52040

-1300

-570-560

-5,600-940

-1,100

-9,0

-12,000-2,000-9,500

4,100

-1,700-1,400

-6S-1,200

-580-520-700

-1,100

-760


0

0m

(0

C

NaIao-(

v

0;

9U

(ICLU.5J

E

I-

V.VQ 0.10 0.15 0.20 0. 0.30 0.35 0.375

GRAVIMETRIC WVATER CONTENT, IN GRAMS PER GRAMFlyure 4. Gravimetric water-content measurements from coarse-size fraction drill cuttings and compose core from test hole USW UZ-6s.

Table 5. Summary of relation of gravimetric water-content measurements of composite core fromtest hole USW UZ-6s to lithology and degree of welding

[Michael Chornack, U.S. Gedogical Survey, written commun., 1985; an data values in gram per gram]

NumberGeologic formation of data Datarange Average Median Standard Degree of

points devaton welding

Tiva Canyon Member 17 0.014 to 0.040 0.027 0.030 0.008 Dense(upper unit) of thePaintbrush Taff

Tsva Canyon Member 4 0.040 to 0.068 0.054 0.054 0.012 Moderate to(lower vitrophyre) of the densePaintbrush Tuff

flva Canyon Member 9 0.098 to 0.160 0.123 0.120 0.020 Partial to non-(shardy base) of the weldedPaintbrush Tuff

Unnamed bedded tuffs 12 0.050 to 0.205 0.106 0.106 0.044 Not applicable

Topopah Spring Member 6 0.032 to 0.209 0.085 0.070 0.064 Partial(vitric unit) of thePaintbrush Tuff

Topopah Spring Member 17 0.010 to 0.040 0.027 0.031 0.009 Dense to(caprock) of the moderatePaintbrush Tuff

Thermocouple-voltage outputs are measuredfirst on the calibration standards from lowest to highestmolality, followed by the rock samples; then the mea-surements are repeated on the calibration standardsfrom lowest to highest molality. The before-and-afterselected voltage-output plateaus for each calibrationstandard are averaged to compensate for any drift intemperature (Brown, 1970). Each voltage-outputplateau has two temperature readings, one taken beforeand one taken after the 10-minute period of voltage-output measurements. The four temperature readingsfor each calibration standard are averaged. Each rocksample has a selected voltage-output plateau. The sam-ple cups that contained the cuttings or core are care-fully cleaned and dried after each set of measurements.

After all voltage-output readings are collectedand voltage-output plateaus determined for calibrationstandards and rock samples, water potential is then cal-culated for each calibration standard. The calculatedwater potential is based on the molality of the calibra-tion standard and the average temperature from thevoltage-output measurement for that calibration stand-ard. A linear-regression equation is run based on thesecalculated water potentials and the average of thebefore-and-after voltage-output plateaus for each cali-bration standard. The results of the linear-regression

equation are used to construct the calibration curve andincluded intercept, slope, and coefficient of determina-tion (r2). Using this calibration curve, the voltage-output plateau reading from each cutting or core sam-ple is entered into the linear-regression equation, andthe output value is the water-potential value of the sam-ple.

Generally, measurements of water potential ofrock samples were rerun if the ie was less than 0.990 orif the readings did not plateau sufficiently. The calibra-tion curves for cuttings and core from UZ-6s werealmost linear, and r2 values ranged from 0.995 to 1.000,with most r2 values equal to 1.000.

Results of water-potential measurements forUZ-6s are listed in tables 3 and 4 and shown in figure 5.For depths 120.7 to 150.6 m, the water potential forcoarse cuttings averaged -37,000 kPa and that for com-posite core averaged -2,300 kPa.

Water-potential measurements are related to thedegree of welding of tuff. Water-potential data of com-posite core from UZ-6s, as related to geological forma-tion and degree of welding, are summarized in table 6.Only core data are tabulated; they are most representa-tive of the rock units drilled.


a

0 I I II I I I I I I I I I I I I l l - l l l l

20

40

. :L - - . I

*+

4

I .\

CnLU

I-_

zI-a-

0

60

80

100

- --+ -- - COARSE-SIZE-FRACTIONDRILL CUTTINGS

-O- COMPOSITE CORE

TIVA CANYON MEMBERIdensely welded)

20

0

_O

U.

I.-

x

a.IL

120 _- -E-~ 4-=- - -

-4-_- _ __ +

F -- -------------- ----==w = ==

= ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ - - - -I--

r TTT V TIVA CANYON MEMBER(moderately to densely welded)

r Y Y TIVA CANYON MEMBERI 1 1 (partially welded to nonwelded)

_ _ UNNAMED BEDDED TUFF

TOPOPAH SPRING MEMBER(partially welded)

TOPOPAH SPRING MEMBER(densely to moderately welded)

140

I I I I I I I , I I . * I1tA LI

0 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000 120,000

WATER POTENTIAL, IN NEGATIVE KILOPASCALSFigure 5. Water-potential measurements from coarse-size fraction drill cuttings and composite core from test hole USW UZ-6s.

140,000 160,000

Table 6. Summary of relation of water-potential measurements of composite core from test hole USW UZ-6s to lithotogy anddegree of welding

pMkhael Chornack, U.S. Geological Survey, wntten commusn, 1985; all data values in kIlopascals]

Number Standard Degree ofGeologic formation of data Data range Average Median deviation welding

points

Tiva Canyon Member 17 -1,000 to -20,000 -7,200 -5,200 -6,100 Dense(upper unit) of thePaintbrush Tuff

Tiva Canyon Member 4 -3,600 to -9,300 -6,700 -4,800 -2,500 Moderate to(lower Vitrophyre) of the densePaintbrush Tuff

Tiva Canyon Member 9 -500 to -7,800 -1,700 -580 -2,400 Partial to(shardy base) of the nonweldedPaintbrush Tuff

Unnamed bedded tuffs 12 -280 to -960 -480 -440 -210 Not applica-ble

Topopah Spring Member 6 -S20 to -1,300 -820 -680 -340 Partial(vitric unit) of thePaintbrush Tuff

Topopah Spring Member 17 -520 to -12,000 -3,400 -1,200 -3,900 Dense to(caprock) of the moderatePaintbrush Tuff

Bulk- and Grain-Density Measurements

The bulk- and grain-density measurements ofcore samples from UZ-6s were determined by Holmes& Narver Materials Testing Laboratory, Inc., atMercury, Nev., in accordance with ASTM ProcedureD-1188 (American Society for Testing and Materials,1980a). Bulk density was calculated from bulk spe-cific gravity.

After the bulk-density measurement was deter-mined, each sample was pulverized to pass through a

200-mesh sieve, was oven-dried, and was tested inaccordance with ASTM Procedure D-854 (AmericanSociety for Testing and Materials, 1980b), and graindensity was calculated. Grain density refers to theweight of a substance compared with the weight of anequal volume of pure water at 4C. Results of labora-tory analyses for bulk- and grain-density measure-ments for UZ-6s are listed in table 7 and aresummarized in table 8. The bulk- and grain-densitymeasurements of UZ-6s are shown in figure 6.


Table 7. Results of laboratory analyses for bulk- and grain-density measurements of rotary-ore samples fromtest hole USW UZ-6s

(Analyses by Holnes & Narver Materials Tesfing Laboratory, Inc., Mercury, Nev.; -, no dal

Depth Interval of sample(meters)

23.26-23.3223.41-23.47

29.41-29.5035.36-35.9741.45-41.5741.97-42.0648.01-48.1660.26-60.3578.03-78.1484.12-84.7390.22-90.5096.71-96.90

102.82-102.96108.72-108.81114.60-114.73120.93-121.10122.53-122.62122.93-123.02123.84-123.93124.45-124.54125.27-12S.39126.13-126.22127.10-127.19127.86-127.96128.32-128.44128.93-129.02129.84-130.12130.58-130.67131.37-131.46131.98-132.10132.47-132.59133.29-133.41133.84-133.96134.84-134.97135.39-135.48136.61-136.79137.95-138.07138.47-138.59139.39-139.48139.78-139.90140.94-141.06

Density(grams per cubic centimeter)

Bulk Grain

2.23 2.482.21 2.472.17 2.452.19 2.472.22 2.502.23 2.492.25 2.502.21 2.512.33 2.512.21 2.492.34 2.492.31 2.542.34 2.492.32 2.492.34 2.441.69 2.482.02 2.412.02 2.391.85 2.391.75 2.431.70 2.471.81 2.431.57 2.411.50 2.351.46 2.381.40 2.381.40 2.351.36 2.351.27 2.451.28 2.401.57 2.401.48 2.441.50 2.501.12 2.421.38 2.461.50 2.381.61 2.381.65 2.411.31 2.501.74 2.501.58 250

22 Geohydrologlc Data from Test Hole USW UZ-Gs, Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada

Table 7. Results of laboratory analyses for bulk- and grain-density measurements of rotary-core samples fromtest hole USW UZ-6s-Gontinued

Depth Interval of sample(meters)

141.61-141.70

142.19-142.28

143.87-144.02

146.30-146.36

146.97-147.16

147.34-147.46

148.10-148.19148.44-148.56

148.96-149.08

149.15-149.29

14950-149.60

150.75-150.88

150.88-151.06

151.97-152.03

152.40-152.55

153.25-153.31

153.77-153.92

155.05-155.14

155.36-155.48

156.09-156.18

157.31-157.46

157.76-157.86

Bul

1.21.6

1.5

1.62.12.3

2.22.3

2.22.2

2.1'2.22.1'2.1:2.1:2.12.1.2.142.1

2.1:2.0

2.0

Density(grams per cubic centimeter)

k Grain

9 2.65

6 2.53

3 _

1 2.45

6 2.514 2.54

3 2.57

1 2.58

4 2.58

8 2.54

7 2.60

3 2.57

5 2.8

3 2.56

2 2.59

4 2.58

5 2.59

6 2.57

4 2.56

3 2.57

B 2.56

7 2.59

Table S. Summary of relation of bulk- and grain-density measurements of composite core fromtest hole USW UZ-6s to Nthology and degree of welding

pichacl Clornack, U.S. Geological Survey, written commun., 1985; all data values in grams per cubic centimeteri

Geologic formation Range of Average values Average Degvalues RalgesC vrg welding

Tiva Canyon Member 2.17 to 2.34 2.26 2.44 to 2.54 2.49 Dense(upper unit) of thePaintbrush Tuff

Tiva Canyon Member 1.69 to 2.02 1.90 2.39 to 2A8 2A2 Moderate to(lower vitrophyre) of the densePaintbrush Tuff

Tlva Canyon Member 1.36 to 1.81 1.55 2.35 to 2.47 2.39 Partial to non-(shardy base) of the weldedPaintbrush Tuff

Unnamed bedded tuffs 1.12 to 1.74 1.45 2.23 to 2.50 2.42 Not applicableTopopah Spring Member 2.07 to 2.34 1.64 2.45 to 2.65 2.53 Partial

(vitric unit) of thePaintbrush Tuff

Topopah Spring Member 2.07 to 2.34 2.18 2.54 to 2.60 2.57 Dense to moder-(caprock) of the atePaintbrush Tuff


1%

0

0~~~2

o -~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~c8 ~~20_o~ -- o--- BULKDENSITY /

-i- - GRAIN DENSITY

040 _ _

s _ / -0

c 6 0

WU 0

J W _TIVA CANYON MEMBER U.b U.U

8 z 80 _z

C 30 I - p

2 ILW 100

,~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ a.120- TIVA CANYON MEMBERz 10 _ o (moderately to densely welded)* ~~~~~~~~~~~-0-

a- - -~~~~~~~0 ~TIVA CANYON MEMBERc9OO -< ' - ( °partially welded to nonweldedl

1 - UNNAMED BEDDED TUFF

140 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~TOPOPAH SPRING MEMBER_ °<0__ _ _ _ _ 0_9a- < ipartially welded)

TOPOPAH SPRING MEMBER(densely to moderately welded)

1 6 0 .. ' . I . I . I ' .',0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00

DENSITY, IN GRAMS PER CUBIC CENTIMETERFigure 6. Bulk- and grain-density measurements of rotary core irom test hole USW UZ-6s.

SUMMARY

Test hole UZ-6s located on the crest of YuccaMountain was drilled to a depth of 158.2 m. Cuttingand core samples were collected to determine gravi-metric water-content, water-potential, bulk-density andgrain-density measurements. Geologic formationspenetrated are the Tiva Canyon Member, unnamedbedded tuff, and Topopah Spring Member of thePaintbrush Tuff.

SELECTED REFERENCES

American Society for Testing and Materials, 1980a, Stan-dard test method for bulk specific-gravity of compactedbituminous mixtures using paraffin-coated specimens:Philadelphia, Pa., Annual Book of ASTM Standards,v. 19, ANSI-ASTM D 1188-71 (reapproved in 1976),p. 247-248. (NNA.900622.0435)1980b, Standard test method for specific gravity ofsoils: Philadelphia, Pa., Annual Book of ASTM Stan-dards, v. 19, ANSI ASTM D 854-58 (reapproved in1979), p. 211-213. (NNA.900622.0434)

Brown, RW., 1970, Measurement of water potential withthermocouple psychrometers--Construction and appli-cations: U.S. Forest Service Research Paper INT-80,27p. (NNA.900208.0001)

Gardner, W.H., 1965, Water content, Black, C.A., ed., Meth-ods of soil analyses-Pt. 1, Physical and mineralogicalproperties, including statistics of measurement andsampling: Madison, Wis., American Society of Agron-omy, Agronomy Monograph 9, p. 82-127.(NNA.900208.0007)

Guzowski, R.V., Nimick, F.B, Siegel, M.D, and Finley, N.C.,1983, Repository site data report for tuff, Yucca Moun-tain, Nevada: Albuquerque, N.Mex., Sandia NationalLaboratories, Report NUREG/CR-2937; SAND-82 2105. 327 p. (NNA.870519.0037)

Hammermeister, D.P., Blout, D.O. and McDaniel, J.C.,1985, Drilling and coring methods that minimize thedisturbance of cuttings, core, and rock formation in theunsaturated zone, Yucca Mountain, Nevada, in NationalWater Well Association Conference on Characteriza-tion and Monitoring of the Vadose (Unsaturated) Zone,Denver, 1985, Proceedings: Worthington, Ohio,National Water Well Association, p. 507-541.(HQS.880517.2696)

Kume, Jack and Hammermeister, Dale P., 1990, Geohydro-logic data from test hole USW UZ-7, Yucca Mountainarea, Nyc County, Nevada: U.S. Geological SurveyOpen-File Report 88-465, 37 p. (NNA.900312.0300)

1991, Geohydrologic data from drill-bit cuttings androtary cores from test hole USW UZ-13, Yucca Moun-tain area, Nye County, Nevada: U.S. Geological Sur-vey Open-File Report 90-362, 30 p.(NNA.901015.0196)

Loskot, C.L. and Hammermeister, D.P., 1986, Geohydro-logic data from test holes UE-25 UZ #4 andUE-25 UZ #5, Nevada Test Site, Nye County,Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report90-369,S7p. (NNA.911219.0001)

Montazer, Parviz, and Wilson, W.E., 1984, Conceptualhydrologic model of flow in the unsaturated zone,Yucca Mountain, Nevada: U.S. Geological SurveyWater-Resources Investigations Report 84-4345,SSp. (NNA.870519.0109)

Mower, T.E., Higgins, J.D., and Yang, I.C., 1990, Triaxialand uniaxial compression testing methods developedfor extraction of pore water from unsaturated tuff,Yucca Mountain, Nevada, in FOCUS '89 Nuclear wasteisolation in the unsaturated zone, Proceedings:LaGrange Park, D1, American Nuclear Society,p. 426-433. (NNA.901214.0002)

Richard, L.A., 1942, Soil moisture tensiometer materials andconstruction: Soil Science, v. 53, January-June,p. 241-248. (NNA.900208.0080)

Richards, L.A., and Ogata, G., 1958, Thermocouple forvapor pressure measurements in biological and soil sys-tems at high humidity: Science, v. 128, no. 3331,p. 1089-1090. (HQS.880517.2837)

Whitfield, M.S., Cope C.M., and Loskot, C.L., 1992, Bore-hole and geohydrologic data for test hole USW UZ-6,Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada: U.S. Geologi-cal Survey Open-File Report 92-28, 36 p.(NNA.920123.0088)

SUMMARY 25

* U.S. GOVERNNENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1993-573-191 / 80012 REGION N0. 8

The following number Is for U.S. Department of Energy Office of Civilian Radioactive WasteManagement Records Management purposes only and should not be used when orderinghis publication: Accession number - NNA.930518.0073.

Documents

GEOHYDROLOGIC DATA FOR TEST HOLE USW UZ-6s, YUCCA … · Degree Celsius (OC) may be converted to degree Fahrenheit (OF) by using the following equation: OF = 915(OC)+32. Degree Fahrenheit