The Chernobyl disaster is a nuclear tragedy that left its mark on history and whose effects continue for many years. After this terrible event took place on April 26, 1986, the shadow of the disaster was not limited to radiation alone. A huge rock mass called “Elephant’s Foot”, a mysterious and dangerous entity around Chernobyl, has become a big question mark for scientists.
Years of research and experimentation have included efforts to understand the nature and dangers of this strange formation. “Elephant’s Foot” and the story of the corium associated with it, remains an unsolved mystery. Although this danger was covered up in 2016, it still poses a threat to the world. For this reason, research on this rock mass formed after the Chernobyl disaster continues.
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The Mysterious Elephant’s Foot and its Radioactive Puzzle
“Elephant’s Foot” is the nickname for a large radioactive mass that formed beneath the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant near Pripyat, Ukraine, during the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986. This formation is currently Reactor No. It was discovered in a vapor distribution corridor beneath the ruins of 4 and remains a highly radioactive object. However, its danger has decreased over time due to the decay of its radioactive components.
“Elephant’s Foot” is a multi-layered black structure that looks like tree bark or glass when viewed from the outside. corium mass It is defined as . This formation occurred during the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 and was discovered in December 1986. It takes its name from its wrinkled appearance that resembles an elephant’s foot. Where this great mass lies, Below reactor room 4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plantis.
Due to high radiation levels, scientists can only take photographs of the mass using remotely controlled robots. These studies constitute one of the important steps towards solving the mystery of the “Elephant’s Foot”. Some brave researchers, armed with protective equipment and risking their lives, managed to obtain samples. These samples revealed that the mass was not a nuclear debris but was actually corium formed from an overheated nuclear fuel or nucleus. However, this kind of phenomenon was rare at that time.
At the time of its discovery, about eight months after the formation was located, the radioactivity level was approximately 8,000 roentgens, or 80 grays per hour, more than 50/50, a lethal dose of radiation within five minutes. However, since this date, radiation intensity has decreased significantly. In 1996, Deputy Director of Elephant’s Foot, New Confinement Project Artur Korneyev and photographs were taken using an automatic camera and flashlight.
How Did the Elephant’s Foot, or Corium, Form?
When it reaches a stage where the unstoppable melting mass in the core reaches the bottom of the reactor and melts there, this molten material moves towards the bottom of the reactor. After interacting with concrete, the melt reacts with water and forms a new mass. The real danger of corium, which is considered one of the most dangerous substances in the world, begins from now on. If not cooled, this molten mass can penetrate metal surfaces and collapse a massive building in mere seconds.
This corium, called “Elephant’s Foot”, contains elements such as uranium, titanium, zirconium, magnesium and graphite in limited amounts. Although it is balanced with crystalline grains, this mass generally has a homogeneous structure. Although the drill, which can be operated by remote control, has a durable structure, it was damaged by a shot from a Kalashnikov rifle during a trial. Because corium, whose structure is unstable and more dangerous than nuclear fuel, does not allow it to be approached without protection due to the high radioactive components it contains. This substance, which must be broken before it can even be transported, is likely to emit radiation to its surroundings during breaking.
It is extremely important how this corium, which is still very active, will be stored as nuclear waste and what its behavior will be. The protection added to Chernobyl in 2016 currently provides some protection against uranium explosions. However, in June 1998, it was found that its outer layers had turned to dust and began to crack. Recent analysis shows that this corium has expanded to a more sand-like consistency. Although its danger has decreased, the “Elephant Foot” still poses a serious threat to the world.
