Formation and properties of Chernobyl "lava": new data on glass matrix and inclusions.

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Title: Formation and properties of Chernobyl "lava": new data on glass matrix and inclusions.
Authors: Shiryaev, Andrey A.1 (AUTHOR) a_shiryaev@mail.ru, Yapaskurt, Vasily O.2 (AUTHOR), Burakov, Boris E.3 (AUTHOR), Averin, Alexey A.1 (AUTHOR), Pavlushin, Anton D.4 (AUTHOR)
Source: Progress in Nuclear Energy. May2026, Vol. 195, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subjects: Electron microscopy, Uranium oxides, Oxidation-reduction potential, Chernobyl Nuclear Accident, Chornobyl, Ukraine, 1986, Spectrometry, Zirconium oxide
Geographic Terms: Chornobyl (Ukraine)
Abstract: Polished samples of Chernobyl "lava" and rich variety of trapped inclusions were studied using complementary spectroscopic methods and by electron microscopy. Spectroscopic properties of the brown "lava" variety in infra-red and visible range are dominated by contribution of nearly stoichiometric (U,Zr)O 2+x (x ≤ 0.05-0.1). At the same time, abundant inclusions of strongly hyperstoichiometric urania are detected using electron microscopy. Their morphology, internal structure (when present) and textural relationships with other included phases indicates partial oxidation of fuel from degraded bundles. Melting and/or liquefaction of hyperstoichiometric urania occur at much lower temperatures than for ideal UO 2 , explaining "molten" appearance of many inclusions. Fuel-cladding interaction prior to the explosion led to formation of monoclinic and tetragonal polymorphs of ZrO 2 with markedly different crystalline quality; the high temperature modifications are stabilized by uranium admixture. These phases were formed on the saturation stage of the interaction. At later stages of the accident, uranium-rich zircon crystals were formed as a result of reaction of the zirconia-based pieces with molten construction materials. Dynamic conditions in the melt pool explain remarkably complex internal structure of some zircon crystals: some of them experienced several growth-dissolution-regrowth events with clear compositional differences between the "growth"-related and "secondary" generations. Partitioning of Nb and Si between droplets of former steel and the surrounding melt allowed estimation of oxygen fugacity in the pool. Strongly reducing conditions down to IW-3.6, where IW – iron-wustite buffer, were present. Implications for the accident scenario are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Progress in Nuclear Energy is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: Formation and properties of Chernobyl "lava": new data on glass matrix and inclusions.
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  Data: Polished samples of Chernobyl "lava" and rich variety of trapped inclusions were studied using complementary spectroscopic methods and by electron microscopy. Spectroscopic properties of the brown "lava" variety in infra-red and visible range are dominated by contribution of nearly stoichiometric (U,Zr)O 2+x (x ≤ 0.05-0.1). At the same time, abundant inclusions of strongly hyperstoichiometric urania are detected using electron microscopy. Their morphology, internal structure (when present) and textural relationships with other included phases indicates partial oxidation of fuel from degraded bundles. Melting and/or liquefaction of hyperstoichiometric urania occur at much lower temperatures than for ideal UO 2 , explaining "molten" appearance of many inclusions. Fuel-cladding interaction prior to the explosion led to formation of monoclinic and tetragonal polymorphs of ZrO 2 with markedly different crystalline quality; the high temperature modifications are stabilized by uranium admixture. These phases were formed on the saturation stage of the interaction. At later stages of the accident, uranium-rich zircon crystals were formed as a result of reaction of the zirconia-based pieces with molten construction materials. Dynamic conditions in the melt pool explain remarkably complex internal structure of some zircon crystals: some of them experienced several growth-dissolution-regrowth events with clear compositional differences between the "growth"-related and "secondary" generations. Partitioning of Nb and Si between droplets of former steel and the surrounding melt allowed estimation of oxygen fugacity in the pool. Strongly reducing conditions down to IW-3.6, where IW – iron-wustite buffer, were present. Implications for the accident scenario are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Progress in Nuclear Energy is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1016/j.pnucene.2026.106318
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 1
        StartPage: N.PAG
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Electron microscopy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Uranium oxides
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Oxidation-reduction potential
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Chernobyl Nuclear Accident, Chornobyl, Ukraine, 1986
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Spectrometry
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Zirconium oxide
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Chornobyl (Ukraine)
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Formation and properties of Chernobyl "lava": new data on glass matrix and inclusions.
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            NameFull: Shiryaev, Andrey A.
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            – D: 01
              M: 05
              Text: May2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 195
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