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1. Nuclear reactor zones
2. Sandstone
3. Uranium ore layer
4. Granite

Nuke Natural Nuclear Fission Reactor
Creator: Hydromancerx
Location: Barlowe Water Table

A uranium deposit where a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction is occurring. Like the Oklo site on Earth, Nuke Natural Nuclear Fission Reactor is a unique instance where just the right set of circumstances happen to allow for such a rare geologic circumstance to occur. The natural nuclear reactor formed when a uranium-rich mineral deposit became inundated with groundwater, which could act as a moderator for the neutrons produced by nuclear fission. The site gets its name "Nuke" from the region of Barlowe that used to have the same name (northeastern Barlowe). The site is underground around Barlowe Temperate Woodland. It is deep enough underground that the area is not radioactive. However, the surrounding underground aquifer is. The radiation would kill most species in the water table close to it. Farther away, it would provide a heat source for heat loving microbes.

This post has been edited by Hydromancerx: Aug 28 2022, 12:17 AM

Was this inspired by the landmark I made in Beta or is it just a coincidence that we both made Oklo clones?

Pretty sure it's just a coincidence

QUOTE (Cube67 @ Aug 8 2022, 02:10 PM)

Was this inspired by the landmark I made in Beta or is it just a coincidence that we both made Oklo clones?

i haven't been following Beta and have had this on my todo list for a long time. so coincidence.

"get's it's name" Gets its name.
"radio active" Radioactive.
"However the surrounding underground aquifer": this would sound more fluent with a comma after "however".

The description is sparse. Can you add some details about the ecological effects of a radioactive aquifer? In real life, some trees have roots deep enough to tap into underground aquifers. Depending on the geology and depth of the natural reactors, it may be possible trees could pick up radioactive groundwater. It seems the deepest roots in the world, the roots of the shepherd's tree, can go 70 meters deep. (https://www.rutgers.edu/news/deep-roots-plants-driven-soil-hydrology) However, for this particular habitat, it seems improbable any roots could go that deep.

This might provide interesting opportunities for microbes or even microscopic fauna.

QUOTE (Coolsteph @ Aug 20 2022, 09:43 AM)

"get's it's name" Gets its name. "radio active" Radioactive. "However the surrounding underground aquifer": this would sound more fluent with a comma after "however". The description is sparse. Can you add some details about the ecological effects of a radioactive aquifer? In real life, some trees have roots deep enough to tap into underground aquifers. Depending on the geology and depth of the natural reactors, it may be possible trees could pick up radioactive groundwater. It seems the deepest roots in the world, the roots of the shepherd's tree, can go 70 meters deep. (https://www.rutgers.edu/news/deep-roots-plants-driven-soil-hydrology) However, for this particular habitat, it seems improbable any roots could go that deep. This might provide interesting opportunities for microbes or even microscopic fauna.

Fixed and added.

Two errors I pointed out remain in the description: ""The site get's" and "However the surrrounding". It's possible this happened because you worked on the memory of what I said, instead of copying it down and going point-by-point through the description. It should help to write descriptions on text processors with grammar checks, or use to use Grammarly.

"where self-sustaining": "where a self-sustaining".
"that use to have": That used to have.
"Father away it would" would sound more fluent with a comma after "farther away".