Short description: Natural nuclear fission reactor discovered in 1972 in the Oklo region of Gabon

The natural nuclear fission reactors of Oklo: (1) Nuclear reactor zones. (2) Sandstone. (3) Uranium ore layer. (4) Granite.

Oklo Mine (sometimes Oklo Reactor or Oklo Mines), located in Oklo, Gabon on the west coast of Central Africa, is believed to be the only natural nuclear fission reactor. Oklo consists of 16 sites at which self-sustaining nuclear fission reactions are thought to have taken place approximately 1.7 billion years ago, and ran for hundreds of thousands of years. It is estimated to have averaged under 100 kW of thermal power during that time.[1][2][3]

## See also

* Geology of Gabon

## References

1. ↑ Meshik, A. P. (November 2005). "The Workings of an Ancient Nuclear Reactor". Scientific American 293 (5): 82–6, 88, 90–1. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican1105-82. PMID 16318030. Bibcode: 2005SciAm.293e..82M. http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=ancient-nuclear-reactor.
2. ↑ Mervine, Evelyn (July 13, 2011). "Nature's Nuclear Reactors: The 2-Billion-Year-Old Natural Fission Reactors in Gabon, Western Africa". blogs.scientificamerican.com. https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/natures-nuclear-reactors-the-2-billion-year-old-natural-fission-reactors-in-gabon-western-africa/.
3. ↑ Gauthier-Lafaye, F.; Holliger, P.; Blanc, P.-L. (1996). "Natural fission reactors in the Franceville Basin, Gabon: a review of the conditions and results of a "critical event" in a geologic system". Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 60 (25): 4831–4852. doi:10.1016/S0016-7037(96)00245-1. Bibcode: 1996GeCoA..60.4831G.

## External links

* Meet Oklo, the Earth’s Two-billion-year-old only Known Natural Nuclear Reactor, International Atomic Energy Agency
* This Two Billion Year-Old Natural Reactor May Hold The Key To Safe Nuclear Waste Disposal, Forbes 2018
* Gabon's Ancient Nuclear Reactor | Amusing Planet

Coordinates: 1°24′03″S 13°09′24″E / 1.40083°S 13.15667°E / -1.40083; 13.15667

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