Iron-Enriched Basalt for Containment of Nuclear Wastes

Iron-enriched basalt (IEB) has been investigated as a containment medium for defense transuranic (TRU) and defense high-level wastes (HLW). IEB samples have been fabricated incorporating simulated and actual defense TRU wastes generated at the Rocky Flats Plant (RFP), and simulated defense high-level wastes. These samples were tested for leaching resistance and fracture toughness. Cesium and strontium volatility from an IEB melt was also assessed, using radioactively spiked samples.