Geologic storage of radioactive waste: field studies in Sweden

Access to a granitic rock mass in an iron ore mine in Sweden provided a unique opportunity for underground experiments related to the geologic disposal of radioactive waste. These field tests demonstrated the importance of hydrogeology and the difficulties in predicting the thermomechanical behavior of fractured granitic rocks. To characterize a site fully, measurements made from the surface must be supplemented by extensive subsurface measurements and experiments. Much effort is needed at this stage to generate the technology required for the development of waste repositories.