The Mont Terri rock laboratory, a new international research project in a Mesozoic shale formation, in Switzerland

In many countries, argillaceous formations are being considered as potential host rocks for repositories of radioactive waste. Therefore, in 1995 several organisations decided to start an international research project in the reconnaissance gallery of the Mont Terri motorway tunnel, in north-western Switzerland, in a Mesozoic shale formation, the Opalinus Clay (Aalenian). roject is under the patronage of the Swiss National Hydrological and Geological Survey. The following organisations are also partners in the project: ANDRA and IPSN (France), BGR (Germany), ENRESA (Spain), Nagra (Switzerland), JNC and Obayashi (Japan), SCKCEN (Belgium). ms of the project are to analyse the hydrogeological, geochemical and rock mechanical properties of an argillaceous formation, the changes of these properties induced by the excavation of galleries and to evaluate and improve appropriate investigation techniques. In January, 1996, eight niches were excavated for the project and 15 experiments were started in boreholes of no more than 30 m in length. In the winter of 1997–1998 a new research gallery was excavated to host further experiments. Different excavation, drilling and investigation techniques have been tested and improved. Significant results of the different experiments are already available. Some of those dealing with hydrochemistry, porewater pressure measurements and the evolution of the excavation disturbed zone (EDZ) are reported in this paper.