Project GNOME

= Background and Planning =

Project Gnome was the first test of the Plowshare program and the first continental nuclear test since Trinity to be conducted outside of the Nevada Test Site. First announced in 1958, Gnome was delayed by the testing moratorium between the United States and the Soviet Union that lasted from November, 1958 until September, 1961 when the Soviet Union resumed nuclear testing thus ending the moratorium. The site selected for Gnome is located roughly 40 kilometers southeast of Carlsbad New Mexico in an area of salt and potash mines along with oil and gas wells. [Defense Nuclear Agency, "Projects Gnome and Sedan: The Plowshare Program", (Washington D.C.: Defense Nuclear Agency, 1983): 32-34.]

Unlike most nuclear tests which were focused on weapon development, Shot Gnome was designed to focus on scientific experiments.

* "Study the possibility of converting the heat produced by a nuclear explosion into steam for the production of electric power." [DNA, "Projects Gnome and Sedan: The Plowshare Program, " p. 37.]

* "Explore the feasibility of recovering radioisotopes for scientific and industrial applications." [DNA, "Projects Gnome and Sedan: The Plowshare Program, " p. 37-38.]

* "Use the high flux of neutrons produced by the detonation for a variety of measurements that would contribute to the scientific knowledge in general and to the reactor development program in particular." [DNA, "Projects Gnome and Sedan: The Plowshare Program, " p. 38.]

It was learned during the a test in 1957, Plumbbob-Rainier, that a underground nuclear detonation created large quantities of heat as well as radioisotopes but most would quickly become trapped in the molten rock and unusable as the rock resolidifed. For this reason, it was decided that Gnome would be detonated inside a bedded rock salt dome. The plan was to then pipe water through the molten salt and use the steam generated to produce electricity. Later, the hardened salt could be dissolved in water in order to extract the radioisotopes. Because Gnome was considered extremely important to the future of nuclear science and to show that nuclear weapons could be used in peaceful applications, the Atomic Energy Commission invited representatives from various nations, the U.N., the media, interested scientists, and some Carlsbad residents. [DNA, "Projects Gnome and Sedan: The Plowshare Program, " p. 38-40.]

While Gnome is considered the first test of the Plowshare program, it was also part of the Vela program, which was established in order to improve the ability of the United States to detect underground and high altitude nuclear detonations. Vela Uniform was the phase of the program concerned with underground testing. Everything from seismic signals, radiation, ground wave patterns, electromagnetic pulse, and acoustic measurements were studied at Gnome under Vela Uniform. [DNA, "Projects Gnome and Sedan: The Plowshare Program, " p. 44-54.]

Gnome Shot and Aftermath

Gnome was placed 1,184 feet underground at the end of a 1,116 foot tunnel that was supposed to be self sealing upon detonation. Gnome was detonated on 10 December, 1961 with a yield of 3.1 kilotons. Even though the Gnome shot was supposed to seal itself, the plan didn't quite work. Two to three minutes after detonation, smoke and steam began to rise from the shaft. Although radiation was released and detected off site, it quickly decayed. [DNA, "Projects Gnome and Sedan: The Plowshare Program, " p. 36-37.]

The Gnome detonation created a cavity 60 to 80 feet wide and 160 to 170 feet high with a floor of melted rock and salt which trapped most of the radiation. A new shaft was drilled near the original and on 17 May, 1962, crews entered the Gnome Cavity. Even though almost six months had passed since the detonation, the temperature inside the cavity was still around 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius). Inside they found stalactites made of melted salt as well as the walls of the cavity covered in salt. The intense radiation of the detonation colored the salt multiple shades of blue, green, and violet. [DNA, "Projects Gnome and Sedan: The Plowshare Program, " p. 37.]

Today, all that exists to show what occurred at Gnome is a small concrete monument with two weathered and slightly vandalized plaques.

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