Atom Explosions May Open “Treasure Chests”

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28543, 24 March 1958, Page 11

Atom Explosions May Open “Treasure Chests”

(Rec. 9 p.m.)! WASHINGTON, March 22. The United States atomic energy commission believes it can blast open treasure chests of nature hitherto locked to man. It is talking informally with oil companies now about the possibility of a joint enterprise which unofficially has variously been nicknamed “Operation Open Sesame” and “Project Aladdin.” In addition to freeing existing oil, water, and mineral wealth, atomic explosions, the commission believes, could be used to create new wealth in the form of precious radioactive materials, chemicals and stores of power needing only to be tapped by drillers.

On September 19, 1957 the commission exploded an atomic bomb deep in the rock under a hill at its nuclear proving grounds in Nevada.

The bomb had the power of 1700 tons of T.N.T.—about onetenth the power of the bomb destroyed Hiroshima. But it pulverised 700.000 tons of rock without releasing dangerous radiation In so doing the “little” bomb established the feasibility of atomic blasting to crush ore deposits preparatory to dissolving out the wealth contained in them. The commission has received a

number of definite proposals from oil companies to use atomic explosions to release oil deposits but no formal negotiations have yet been started.

Since weapons information is involved, a way to avoid breaches of security will have to be found before a proposed joint operation between the commission and private enterprise can be undertaken.

Dr. Willard Libby, a scientist member of the Atomic Energy Commission has listed these possibilities for the peaceful use of atomic explosions.

The storage of atomic heat in deep rock “so that we could pump water down in there and make steam" to run power plants. Moving earth to make harbours, dig canals and level mountains.

Restoring productivity to oil fields where the oil has ceased to flow.

The manufacture of radioisotopes, the radioactive materials useful in medicine, industry and science which are now produced tediously in atomic reactors. The transformation of coal beds into repositories of industrially valuable chemicals.