Effect of natural irradiation in fluorites: possible implications for nuclear waste managenement?

Abstract

Samples of naturally irradiated fluorite have been analyzed. The diffraction patterns show peak broadening caused by micro-strain and an increase in the unit cell parameter.

The DSC analysis showed an exothermic peak an order of magnitude higher than calculated change due to observed unit cell volume increase. The LA-ICP-MS did not show any significant substitutions.

The results show that high radiation doses lead to formation of defect clusters.

Keywords

• fluorite
• irradiation
• X-ray diffraction
• differential scanning calorimetry
• defects
• real structure