The MaCoTe project (Figure 1C) involves the drilling of a number of boreholes into the granite host rock into which modules are emplaced to test the potential corrosion of canister materials and the inhibition of microbial activity by bentonite within the engineered barrier system. [...] Water samples were collected in September 2014 from the borehole prior to insertion of modules in order to characterize the groundwater in the borehole that will saturate the bentonite. [...] The caps of the sample tubes were reinforced with electrical tape to protect the seal during transport from the field site to the laboratory. [...] The only sample which had indication of PLFA masses above the level of the blank was the October 2015 groundwater sample (borehole 13.001) PLFA 2 which has a PLFA mass slightly above the level of the compiled method blank and above the range of the concurrent process blank. [...] DISCUSSION Overall the results of this study indicated very low or no biomass in the drilling fluid and core samples from the Grimsel site at the time of the drilling of boreholes 15.003 and 15.004.
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- Pages
- 37
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- Canada
