![]() Further investigations into this uranium deposit discovered uranium ore with a 235Ĭoncentration as low as 0.44% (almost 40% below the normal value). A series of measurements of the relative abundances of the two most significant isotopes of the uranium mined at Oklo showed anomalous results compared to those obtained for uranium from other mines. Thus the French Commissariat à l'énergie atomique (CEA) began an investigation. ![]() Furthermore since fissile material is why people mine uranium, a significant amount "going missing" was also of direct economic concern. This discrepancy required explanation, as all civilian uranium handling facilities must meticulously account for all fissionable isotopes to ensure that none are diverted to the construction of nuclear weapons. Normally the concentration is 0.72% while these samples had only 0.60%, a significant difference (some 17% less U-235 was contained in the samples than expected). In May 1972 at the Tricastin uranium enrichment site at Pierrelatte in France, routine mass spectrometry comparing UF 6 samples from Oklo showed a discrepancy in the amount of the 235 It is estimated to have averaged under 100 kW of thermal power during that time. ![]() Oklo consists of 16 sites at which self-sustaining nuclear fission reactions are thought to have taken place approximately 1.7 billion years ago, and ran for hundreds of thousands of years. Oklo Mine (sometimes Oklo Reactor or Oklo Mines), located in Oklo, Gabon on the west coast of Central Africa, is believed to be the only natural nuclear fission reactor.
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