A Review of Key Processes and Outstanding Issues Related to Radioactive Waste Repositories in Clay Formations

The present paper provides an overview of key processes and outstanding issues related to the development of radioactive waste repositories in clay formations. Here, clay formations include plastic clay such as Boom clay at Mol, Belgium, and indurated clay such as those at Bure, France, and Mont Terri, Switzerland. First, we briefly introduce four major underground research laboratories (URLs) that have been devoted to clay repository research over the last few decades. Much of the research results in this area have been gained through investigations in these URLs and their supporting laboratory and modeling research activities. Then, the basic elements in the construction of a waste repository in clays are presented in terms of four stages in repository development. For each of the four stages, key processes and outstanding issues are discussed. A summary of the important areas of research needs and some general remarks conclude this paper.

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