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Current
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  Events
  
  Up-to-date information on the Mont Terri Project
  
  Activities
  
  Current information about the experiments in the Mont Terri rock laboratory
Goals
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  Issues
  
  The key question is: can radioactive waste be stored safely in Opalinus Clay? The Mont Terri rock laboratory is engaged solely in research. No deep geological disposal will be built at Mont Terri.
  
  Links
  
  Useful links and important partners for the project
  
  Task
  
  What is the purpose of a rock laboratory? Why is research being carried out here into the Opalinus Clay? Who is taking part in the research? What are the research objectives? swisstopo runs the Mont...
  
  Core Messages
  
  22 partners from Europe, Japan, Canada, United Kingdom, the USA and Switzerland are carrying out research at the Mont Terri rock laboratory. The Mont Terri rock laboratory is a generic research...
Mont Terri Project
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  Organisation of the Mont Terri Project
  
  The Mont Terri Project is an international research project for the hydrogeological, geochemical and geotechnical characterisation of a clay formation (Opalinus Clay).
  
  History of the Project
  
  We give here the history of the project from the mid-1990s onwards with a summary of the milestones.
  
  Contracts
  
  As representative of the federal government, swisstopo has concluded contracts with the project partners and the Canton of Jura, thereby assuring a legal basis for the Mont Terri Project and the...
  
  Funding
  
  The federal government represented by swisstopo funds the operation of the rock laboratory (no third party is involved). The participating partners fund the research programme.
Rock laboratory
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  Where is the rock laboratory located?
  
  The Mont Terri rock laboratory is situated to the north of St-Ursanne in the canton of Jura, around 300 m underground. It is accessed via the safety gallery of the Mont Terri motorway tunnel.
  
  Interior view
  
  The rock laboratory comprises 1200 m of galleries and niches. The horse-shoe shaped galleries are 4 to 5 m high and well-lit.
  
  Operation of the rock laboratory
  
  swisstopo (which includes Swiss Geological Survey) is responsible for the independent, smooth, and safe operation of the rock laboratory. The Opalinus Clay Formation surrounding the rock laboratory...
Geology
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  Stratigraphy and facies
  
  The rock laboratory is situated in the Opalinus Clay rock formation, a marly argillaceous claystone with different proportions of sand and carbonates. Opalinus Clay has an age of approximately 174...
  
  3D geological model
  
  This short movie presents the new geological 3D-model of the Mont Terri area. Data from the lab (boreholes, mappings) are combined with regional geological data (maps, cross-sections, etc.).
  
  Geological structures
  
  The main tectonic element in the investigation area is the Mont Terri anticline. This is a dome-shaped fold that, due of the pressure of the Alps (Fernschub = distant push hypothesis), was pushed...
  
  Properties and characteristic values
  
  Opalinus Clay exhibits properties conducive to the deep geological storage of radioactive waste. The advantages clearly outweigh any disadvantages.
Experiments
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  Development of methods
  
  One group of experiments comprises the development of new research and measurement methods, particularly adapted to the Opalinus Clay, such as, new excavation and drilling methods, extraction of...
  
  The most important experiments
  
  Experiments have been carried out at the Mont Terri rock laboratory since 1996: this page contains a list of some of the most important ones.
  
  FAQs and answers
  
  During the visits to the Mont Terri rock laboratory similar questions are often asked to the guides. Below the five most frequent questions are answered briefly.
  
  Characterisation of Opalinus Clay
  
  Opalinus Clay is being investigated as a potential host rock for the storage of nuclear waste due to its very low hydraulic conductivity, self-sealing of open cracks and fissures, and excellent...
  
  New Experiments Gallery 2018
  
  The excavation gives space and opportunities for many new and exciting experiments.
  
  Demonstration experiments
  
  Demonstration experiments show the feasibility for a future deep geological repository for radioactive waste and the thermal-hydraulic-mechanical (THM) response of Opalinus Clay. These experiments...
  
  Experiment portfolio
  
  The Mont Terri rock laboratory is a generic laboratory. It will never house a deep repository. The research focuses on the safe storage of radioactive waste and the technical feasibility of a deep...
Documentation
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  Scientific publications in technical journals
  
  Scientific publications in specialist journals
  
  Media Coverage
  
  Coverage in the press, on the radio and on TV
  
  Publications from swisstopo
  
  Scientific reports on tests at the Mont Terri laboratory
  
  Pictures 20 years jubilee
  
  Celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the Mont Terri project in the first half of the year. On 19 May, in front of 100 invited guests Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin underscores the importance...
  
  Technical reports
  
  Scientific reports on tests at the Mont Terri laboratory
Visitor Centre
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  Welcome to the visitor centre
  
  Sign up to find out about the current status of research in our rock laboratory. We welcome groups of 10 or more visitors, from Monday to Saturday.
  
  Visitors feedback and photos
  
  Feedback from visitors about our rock laboratory and guided tours. Obtain a first impression and view our photo gallery.
  
  Registration
  
  Here you can register quickly and conveniently. We look forward to welcoming you!
  
  Other services of the visitor centre and activities
  
  Use our visitor’s centre for a meeting or an aperitif. Combine your visit to the rock laboratory with a visit to another attraction in the beautiful Jura Region.
  
  Travel information
  
  Here you can register quickly and conveniently. The location of our visitor centre is indicated on the map below. We look forward to welcoming you.

Can the rock laboratory be converted to deep geological disposal?

No. That is not possible. The rock laboratory is used only for research purposes. There can be no question of the disposal of radioactive waste here. That is part of the contractual arrangement with the Canton of Jura.

Contracts

What is researched in the rock laboratory?

Research is separated into individual experiments, differentiated according to the following types: Development of methodology, e.g. test performance and related analyses; Characterisation of Opalinus Clay, e.g. understanding the chemical and physical processes in the Opalinus Clay at the laboratory and investigating the relevant properties and Parameters; Demonstration experiments. Here, tests on a 1:1 scale can be carried out over a long period. Generally, the experiments in the rock laboratory provide a significant body of knowledge about the feasibility and safety of deep geological disposal.

Experiments

Why clay for a deep geological disposal facility?

Argillaceous rocks are suitable as a geological barrier for the long-term encapsulation of radioactive waste. The three most important characteristics are: Retention of radionuclides at the clay mineral surfaces, very low permeability (no transfer of radionuclides by flowing water), and the ability to self-sealing of cracks and fissures by swelling.

Properties of Opalinus clay

Is it possible to visit the rock laboratory?

Yes! Guided tours of the Mont Terri rock laboratory are organised throughout the year for groups of visitors. More information is available here: Tel. +41 32 461 40 53 / visit@mont-terri.ch

Welcome to the visitors center

The Mont Terri project

The picture shows the entrance to the rock laboratory with the flags of all patners at the door.

The Mont Terri Project is an international research project for the hydrogeological, geochemical and geotechnical characterisation of a clay formation (Opalinus Clay).

Task

Prix Schläfli 2018

A. Bagnoud honoured by SCNAT for his work in Mont Terri. Congratulations!

Job opportunity at swisstopo (Mont Terri underground rock laboratory)

Scientific collaborator

Welcome to the Mont Terri underground rock laboratory

Corona-Virus

Following the current measures of the Canton of Jura and the Confederation, the Visitor Center is closed until further notice.

The Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal BGE in Germany is a new research partner in the Mont Terri project

Since 1 July 2020, the Federal Company for Radioactive waste Disposal BGE in Germany is a new partner in the Mont Terri research project. This means that 22 organisations from nine nations are now conducting research in the Mont Terri Rock Laboratory near St-Ursanne under the direction of swisstopo.

Cutting-through of Gallery 18, May 27, 2019

1 of

Links to media coverage of cutting-through

Ceremony of Saint Barbara

1 of

Start of excavation for Gallery 2018 on March 12

Start of excavation works for Gallery 2018 — Responsibles from Confederation, Canton Jura and Underground Rock Laboratory (URL) during the start of the extension work

The expansion of the Mont Terri rock laboratory in St-Ursanne has officially started. In just under two years, the research facility will have an additional 600 metres of tunnels and niches for experiments.

More informations

Start of excavation for Gallery 2018

Impressions from the rock laboratory

News: Extension of the Mont Terri rock laboratory

From 2018 to 2019 the Mont Terri rock laboratory was extended. Here, you find more links and information about it.

Follow us!

Extension 2018

Extension is done!
PDF, 2 Pages, 947 KB, English
Let's start!
PDF, 3 Pages, 965 KB, English

Our partners:

Homepage

Can the rock laboratory be converted to deep geological disposal?

What is researched in the rock laboratory?

Why clay for a deep geological disposal facility?

Is it possible to visit the rock laboratory?

The Mont Terri project

Prix Schläfli 2018

Job opportunity at swisstopo (Mont Terri underground rock laboratory)

Welcome to the Mont Terri underground rock laboratory

Corona-Virus

The Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal BGE in Germany is a new research partner in the Mont Terri project

Cutting-through of Gallery 18, May 27, 2019

Welcoming words

Guests for the breakthrough

It's coming!

It's done!

Congratulations!

Welcoming speech by the minister

Well done!

Thank you!

The team of Rothpletz&Lienhard AG

This is my tunnel!

Finally a far view!

Links to media coverage of cutting-through

Ceremony of Saint Barbara

The tunnel is ready!

Saint Barbara

Welcome

Welcoming words

Eucharist