natural nuclear reactors

[Andrew Karam <karam.1@osu.edu>]

For anyone interested in natural nuclear reactors.....

A paper titled "Natural fission reactors in the Francevill basin, Gabon:  A
review of the conditions and results of a "critical event" in a geologic
system" (Gauthier-Lafaye and Blanc) appeared in Geochimica et Cosmochimica
Acta, volume 60, No. 23 (December, 1996).  I have not yet read beyond the
abstract but it appears to summarize current thinking regarding the
geochemical and geological controls on reactor formation and goes a little
bit into fission product retention over the past 2 billion years.  There is
also a very good list of references for those of you interested in more
reading (although Cowan's Scientific American article is omitted - but it
wasn't peer-reviewed).

This journal should be available in any university geology or earth sciences
library.  Cowan's article should be available at any public library
(Scientific American, July, 1976)  Anyone interested who does not have this
available, please e-mail me directly.  I will be happy to send a copy of
this paper.  

Regards,

Andrew Karam, CHP
Office of Radiation Safety
The Ohio State University
1314 Kinnear Road
Columbus, OH  43212

Phone: (614) 292-1284   Fax: (614) 292-6404	Alt fax:   292-7002