In Ekker series, French nuclear tests

In Ekker was a series of 13 underground nuclear tests and five complementary subcritical atmospheric experiments by France between November 1961 and February 1966. The bombs were detonated at the Oasis Military Experiments Centre (Centre d'expérimentation militaire des oasis ) also named CEMO near In Ekker, French Algeria at the Tan Afella in the Hoggar Mountains, by the Nuclear Experiments Operational Group (GOEN), a unit of the Joint Special Weapons Command. At the beginning of the test series, the area was controlled by France as part of French Algeria, which was in the midst of its war of independence. While Algeria won its independence in 1962, the tests were controversially allowed to continue until 1966 as part of the peace treaty.

The series saw the explosion of the first AN-11/21 bombs and was followed by the 1966–1970 series. The tests remain controversial for their continued impact on the region.

Codenames

The 13 underground operations were named after jewel stones, while the 5 AN-11/21 bombs tests were designated as Pollen I, Pollen Rose, Pollen Rouge, Pollen Safran and Pollen Jonquille.

List of tests

Codename Date time (UTC) Location Elevation Altitude Delivery Purpose Device Yield Fallout Agate 1961-11-07 – 11:29:59.9 Shaft E1 North – CEMOTan Afella, In Ekker, French Algeria 1,400 m 0 m Tunnel Measurement procedures Study of mechanical effects S1 5.0 kt After 8 hours: 0.040 mGy/h (Drilling T11') Béryl 1962-05-01 – 10:00:00.5 Shaft E2 – CEMOTan Afella, In Ekker, French Algeria 1,580 m 0 m Tunnel Test of an AN-11 bomb S2 >30.0 kt After few minutes: 0.001 to 3.000 Gy/h

After 1 hour: 7.000 Gy/h (7.0 km)

After 1 day: 0.100 mGy/h (150.0 km) Émeraude(Georgette) 1963-03-18 – 10:02:00.4 Shaft E3 South – CEMOTan Afella, In Ekker, French Algeria 1,540 m 0 m Tunnel 10.0 kt After 8 hours: 0.400 mGy/h (Drilling T32) Améthyste 1963-03-30 – 09:59:00.3 Shaft E3 Bis – CEMOTan Afella, In Ekker, French Algeria 1,220 m 0 m Tunnel Reuse of plutonium Test of new neutron detection devices P1 0.85 kt After 20 minutes: 0.200 Gy/h (1.0 km)

After 1 day: 0.700 Gy/h (1.0 km) Rubis 1963-10-20 – 13:00:00.1 Shaft E5 – CEMOTan Afella, In Ekker, French Algeria 1,510 m 0 m Tunnel 68.0 kt After 1 hour: 1.000 Gy/h (1.0 km)

After 5 hours: 0.100 mGy/h (? km)

After 14 hours: 0.002 mGy/h (150.0 km) Opale(Michèle) 1964-02-14 – 11:00:00.3 Shaft E1 South – CEMOTan Afella, In Ekker, French Algeria 1,380 m 0 m Tunnel 3.7 kt After 6 hours: 0.050 mGy/h (Drilling T12) Pollen I1964-05-08 – ??:??:??.? Shooting range – CEMOTan Ataram, In Ekker, French Algeria 940 m 0 m Surface *Assessment of plutonium contamination during a simulated accident AN-11 N/A Topaze 1964-06-15 – 13:40:00.4 Shaft E6-1 – CEMOTan Afella, In Ekker, French Algeria 1,410 m 0 m Tunnel *Test of a new plutonium prototype A1 >1.0 kt After 6 hours: 0.050 mGy/h (Drilling T12) Turquoise 1964-11-28 – 10:30:00.0 Shaft E4 – CEMOTan Afella, In Ekker, French Algeria 1,760 m 0 m Tunnel Fusion of lithium deuterium with plutonium Evacuation exercises H2 5 kt None Pollen Rose1964-12-31 – 06:28:??.? Shooting range – CEMOTan Ataram, In Ekker, French Algeria 940 m +1 m Tower *Assessment of plutonium contamination during a simulated accident AN-11 N/A Contaminated area of 0.550 km2 Saphir(Monique) 1965-02-27 – 11:30:00.0 Shaft E7 – CEMOTan Afella, In Ekker, French Algeria 1,830 m 0 m Tunnel B1 117 kt Leak of noble gases (Drilling T71) Jade 1965-05-30 – 11:00:00.0 Shaft E1-3 – CEMOTan Afella, In Ekker, French Algeria 1,460 m 0 m Tunnel *Axial prototype A2 0.6 kt After 2 hours: 0.010 Gy/h (Drilling T31)

After 4 hours: 0.020 Gy/h (Entrance)

After 2 weeks: E1 explosion, leak of noble gases Corindon 1965-10-01 – 10:00:00.0 Shaft E6-1 – CEMOTan Afella, In Ekker, French Algeria 1,500 m 0 m Tunnel Non spherical device Study of thermonuclear devices' ignition conditions A3 >4 kt After 15 minutes: 3.200 mGy/h (Drilling T62) After 11 hours: 1.8 mGy/h (Entrance) Pollen Rouge1965-11-01 – 21:53:??.? Shooting range – CEMOTan Ataram, In Ekker, French Algeria 940 m +15 m Tower Assessment of plutonium contamination during a simulated accident AN-11 N/A Contaminated area of 2.100 km2 Tourmaline 1965-12-01 – 10:30:00.1 Shaft E3 North – CEMOTan Afella, In Ekker, French Algeria 1,600 m 0 m Tunnel Study of MSBS missiles' ignition conditions Spherical fission plutonium device boosted with tritium G3 10 kt After 1 day: 0.200 mGy/h (Drilling T31) Pollen Safran1966-01-10 – 02:06:??.? Shooting range – CEMOTan Ataram, In Ekker, French Algeria 940 m +15 m Tower Assessment of plutonium contamination during a simulated accident AN-21 N/A Contaminated area of 5.600 km2 Grenat(Carmen) 1966-02-16 – 11:00:00.0 Shaft E4-2 North – CEMOTan Afella, In Ekker, French Algeria 1,760 m 0 m Tunnel Same purposes as Tourmaline, under different conditions G'3 13 kt After 2 hours: 0.005 Gy/h (Drilling T42) Pollen Jonquille1966-03-09 – 22:12:??.? Shooting range – CEMOTan Ataram, In Ekker, French Algeria 940 m +1 m Tower Assessment of plutonium contamination during a simulated accident AN-21 N/A Contaminated area of 2.750 km2 References :

In Ekker series, French nuclear tests

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