graph JAEA
Studying Subsurface Geology #1
Tono Geoscience Center

7No.

November 2015

Japan Atomic Energy Agency

“What do you think this?”
Iｔ includes several components
BiotitePlagioclase

QuartzK-feldsparHints

This is mainly used for decorations on the external
wall columns or frames around the window.
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The Answer
is Granite!
Photo of granite througha special microscope(Polarizing microscope)!
Ventilation Shaft

Main Shaft
GL-200ｍ

GL-300ｍ

GL-400ｍ

GL-500ｍ

Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory（MIU）
located in Mizunami City, Gifu Prefecture, isperforming a research project focused on granite.
For more infomation please see the link below:【 http://www.jaea.go.jp/04/tono/tgc_e/index_e.html 】

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OK，let’s join the site tour of theMIU underground facilities.

Start entering fromhere!!

Go through the entry/exit procedures
then you can reach the entrance to theunderground4

GL-300ｍ

GL-500ｍ

Elevator takes you down tounderground.

This is how you see when looking up to the surface
opening from 300m below
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Welcome to the World of300m below ground!

-300m Access/Research Gallery-North-300m Access/Research GalleryNorth (photo above)-300m Access/Research
Gallery-South (photo below)-300m Access/Research Gallery-South

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The World of 500m below ground!

-500m Access/Research Gallery-North-500m Access/Research GalleryNorth (photo above)-500m Access/Research Gallery-South
Plug (photo below)

Plug installed in the Reflood Gallery

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Various Surveys and Tests
are Carried out in the Lab.

To reduce ground water inflow, grouting material is being injected intorock fractures.
【http://www.jaea.go.jp/04/tono/miu_e/project/project.html】

To understand the initial conditions of backfill, a borehole is drilled toinstall a measuring device is installed.

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We are determining age ingeological sample of several
ten thousand years ago“Toki Research Institute of Isotope Geology and Geochronology” is located near Mizunami
Underground Research Laboratory that has been described in previous pages. In addition tothese two laboratories, “Tono Geoscience Center” comprises other neighboring researchbases. “Toki Research Institute of Isotope Geology and Geochronology” has been promoting
neotectionic research.

Application

EarthScience

Archaeology

JAEA-AMSTONO

EnvironmentalScienceExample• Seismology• Volcanology• Paleoclimatology• Paleontology• Anthropology• Archaeology• AtmosphericScience,etc.
• Marin Science

Depositional ages

Volcanic eruption
history

Plant fragments in deposition

Charred wood inpyroclastic flow deposits（Source: Rikanetwork）（Source: Website of Geological Survey ofJapan, AIST）

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Accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS) in JAEA-AMS-TONO

This is one of the instruments for dating.

Sample preparation for radiocarbon dating.

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JAEA is committed to studying geological disposal technologies
Horonobe Underground Research Center
The main research focus of this center issedimentary rock and saline groundwater. Thiscenter will be a feature of the next issue.

Nuclear Fuel Cycle Engineering Laboratories

In the laboratories, laboratory simulations
are conducted in order to investigate thequality of groundwater and the water
quality change mechanisms.
Tono Geoscience Center
Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory/Toki Research Institute of Isotope Geology and Geochronology
Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory places the research focus on
crystalline rocks and freshwater-groundwater. Toki Research Institute ofIsotope Geology and Geochronology is devoted to neotectonics research.
The photo below shows an accelerator of the AMS, which is a feature of thisissue.

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graph JAEA
02

Microscopic view of granite crystals

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Mizunami Underground ResearchLaboratory

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Underground World beneath Mizunami

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Toki Research Institute of Isotope Geologyand Geochronology

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JAEA’s study for geological disposaltechnologies

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Geological Disposal of High-Level Wastes（Cover photo）Seen at the back is the lateral drift,
located 500m below the ground surface. The upper
hole is connected to the main shaft. In this area,
many investigations are conducted regarding thegeology and strength of rock mass as well as theflow pattern and quality of groundwater.

Geological Disposal of High Level Wastes
For general descriptions on the geologicaldisposal of high-level radioactive wastes, pleaseclick the link below:【http://www.jaea.go.jp/04/tisou/english/brochure/pdf/jaea_girdd_e.pdf】

graph JAEA
November2015 No. 7
Public Relations Section, Japan Atomic Energy Agency
Funaishikawa 765-1, Tokaimura
Naka County, Ibaraki Prefecture
Postal code: 319-1184
Telephone: 029-282-0749

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