Operation Emery

The United States's Emery nuclear test series[1] was a group of 16 nuclear weapons tests conducted in 1970 and 1971. These tests [note 1] followed the Operation Mandrel series and preceded the Operation Grommet series.

Operation Emery
Unexpected venting from the Baneberry nuclear test
Information
CountryUnited States
Test site
  • NTS Area 12, Rainier Mesa
  • NTS, Areas 1–4, 6–10, Yucca Flat
Period1970–1971
Number of tests16
Test typeunderground shaft, tunnel
Max. yield220 kilotonnes of TNT (920 TJ)
Test series chronology

The underground Baneberry test vented into the atmosphere. For descriptions, see Yucca Flat#Baneberry and List of military nuclear accidents#1970s

United States' Emery series tests and detonations
Name [note 2]Date time (UT)Local time zone[note 3][2]Location[note 4]Elevation + height [note 5]Delivery [note 6]
Purpose [note 7]
Device[note 8]Yield[note 9]Fallout[note 10]ReferencesNotes
Scree-Acajou - 1October 13, 1970 15:05:00.02PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U9itsx24 37°08′15″N 116°02′06″W / 37.1374°N 116.03491°W / 37.1374; -116.03491 (Scree-Acajou - 1)1,269 m (4,163 ft) – 249.33 m (818.0 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development
1 ktVenting detected on site, 11 Ci (410 GBq)[1][3][4][5][6][7]Simultaneous, separate holes.
Scree-Alhambra - 2October 13, 1970 15:05:00.02PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U9itsz21 37°08′03″N 116°01′57″W / 37.13406°N 116.0324°W / 37.13406; -116.0324 (Scree-Alhambra - 2)1,273 m (4,177 ft) – 192 m (630 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development
2 ktVenting detected on site[1][3][4][6][7][8]Simultaneous, separate holes.
Scree-Chamois - 3October 13, 1970 15:05:00.02PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U9itsz24 37°08′14″N 116°01′56″W / 37.13733°N 116.03217°W / 37.13733; -116.03217 (Scree-Chamois - 3)1,275 m (4,183 ft) +underground shaft,
safety experiment
less than 20 ktVenting detected on site[1][3][6][7]Simultaneous, separate holes.
TijerasOctober 14, 1970 14:30:00.04PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U7y 37°04′15″N 116°00′20″W / 37.07085°N 116.00566°W / 37.07085; -116.00566 (Tijeras)1,249 m (4,098 ft) – 560.62 m (1,839.3 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development
89 kt[1][6][7][9][10]
Truchas-Chacon - 1October 28, 1970 14:30:00.03PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U3hn 37°00′50″N 116°01′07″W / 37.01401°N 116.01867°W / 37.01401; -116.01867 (Truchas-Chacon - 1)1,182 m (3,878 ft) – 118.38 m (388.4 ft)underground shaft,
safety experiment
unknown yieldVenting detected on site[1][3][6][7]Simultaneous, separate holes.
Truchas-Chamisal - 2October 28, 1970 14:30:00.04PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U3ho 37°00′50″N 116°01′05″W / 37.01398°N 116.01799°W / 37.01398; -116.01799 (Truchas-Chamisal - 2)1,182 m (3,878 ft) – 118 m (387 ft)underground shaft,
safety experiment
unknown yieldVenting detected on site, 3 Ci (110 GBq)[1][3][4][6][7]Simultaneous, separate holes.
Truchas-Rodarte - 3October 28, 1970 14:30:00.04PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U3hm 37°00′53″N 116°01′12″W / 37.01479°N 116.02007°W / 37.01479; -116.02007 (Truchas-Rodarte - 3)1,183 m (3,881 ft) +underground shaft,
weapons development
8 ktVenting detected on site[1][3][6][7]Simultaneous, separate holes.
AbeytasNovember 5, 1970 15:00:00.04PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U3gx 37°01′46″N 116°00′45″W / 37.02947°N 116.01244°W / 37.02947; -116.01244 (Abeytas)1,188 m (3,898 ft) – 393.46 m (1,290.9 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development
20 kt[1][6][7][9][10]
PenascoNovember 19, 1970 15:00:00.04PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U3hl 37°00′53″N 116°01′00″W / 37.01474°N 116.01665°W / 37.01474; -116.01665 (Penasco)1,183 m (3,881 ft) – 270.92 m (888.8 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development
2 kt[1][5][6][7][8]
Carrizozo - 1 (with Corazon)December 3, 1970 15:07:00.0PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U3hr 37°00′22″N 116°02′27″W / 37.00608°N 116.04079°W / 37.00608; -116.04079 (Carrizozo - 1)1,183 m (3,881 ft) +underground shaft,
weapons development
less than 20 kt[1][6][7]
Corazon - 2 (with Corrizozo)December 3, 1970 15:07:00.04PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U3ha 37°00′07″N 116°02′19″W / 37.00202°N 116.03865°W / 37.00202; -116.03865 (Corazon - 2)1,180 m (3,870 ft) – 241.12 m (791.1 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development
100 t[1][5][6][7]
ArtesiaDecember 16, 1970 16:00:00.09PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U7x 37°06′00″N 116°00′32″W / 37.10012°N 116.00881°W / 37.10012; -116.00881 (Artesia)1,302 m (4,272 ft) – 484.83 m (1,590.6 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development
45 kt[1][6][7][10]
Avens-Alkermes - 2December 16, 1970 16:00:00.17PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U9itsu24 37°08′15″N 116°02′21″W / 37.13737°N 116.03903°W / 37.13737; -116.03903 (Avens-Alkermes - 2)1,262 m (4,140 ft) +underground shaft,
weapons development
4 ktVenting detected on site[1][3][6][7]Simultaneous, separate holes.
Avens-Andorre - 1December 16, 1970 16:00:00.17PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U9itst28 37°08′30″N 116°02′26″W / 37.14173°N 116.04053°W / 37.14173; -116.04053 (Avens-Andorre - 1)1,264 m (4,147 ft) +underground shaft,
weapons development
4 ktVenting detected on site[1][3][6][7]Simultaneous, separate holes.
Avens-Asamite - 3December 16, 1970 16:00:00.17PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U9itsw21 37°08′03″N 116°02′11″W / 37.13406°N 116.03632°W / 37.13406; -116.03632 (Avens-Asamite - 3)1,264 m (4,147 ft) +underground shaft,
weapons development
4 ktVenting detected on site[1][3][6][7]Simultaneous, separate holes.
Avens-Cream - 4December 16, 1970 16:00:00.17PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U9itsx29 37°08′34″N 116°02′06″W / 37.1428°N 116.03502°W / 37.1428; -116.03502 (Avens-Cream - 4)1,271 m (4,170 ft) – 292.91 m (961.0 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development
20 ktVenting detected on site, 66 Ci (2,400 GBq)[1][3][4][6][7][10]Simultaneous, separate holes.
CanjilonDecember 16, 1970 16:00:00.05PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U3fq 37°04′21″N 116°01′33″W / 37.07247°N 116.02586°W / 37.07247; -116.02586 (Canjilon)1,227 m (4,026 ft) – 302.19 m (991.4 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development
less than 20 kt[1][6][7]
CarpetbagDecember 17, 1970 16:05:00.16PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U2dg 37°07′46″N 116°05′01″W / 37.12931°N 116.08365°W / 37.12931; -116.08365 (Carpetbag)1,284 m (4,213 ft) – 661.42 m (2,170.0 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development
220 ktVenting detected, 5 Ci (180 GBq)[1][3][4][6][7][10]
BaneberryDecember 18, 1970 15:30:00.2PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U8d 37°10′23″N 116°05′59″W / 37.17309°N 116.09973°W / 37.17309; -116.09973 (Baneberry)1,367 m (4,485 ft) – 277.98 m (912.0 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development
10 ktVenting detected off site, 6.7 MCi (250 PBq)[1][3][4][6][7][10][11]6-month moratorium caused by 6.7 MCi (250 PBq) escaped radioactivity in this test.
EmbudoJune 16, 1971 14:50:00.04PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U3hd 37°01′59″N 116°00′52″W / 37.03318°N 116.01435°W / 37.03318; -116.01435 (Embudo)1,191 m (3,907 ft) – 303.06 m (994.3 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development
18 kt[1][5][6][7][10]
DexterJune 23, 1971 14:00:00.04PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U3hs 37°00′47″N 116°01′02″W / 37.01319°N 116.01716°W / 37.01319; -116.01716 (Dexter)1,182 m (3,878 ft) – 119.94 m (393.5 ft)underground shaft,
safety experiment
less than 20 kt[1][6][7]
LagunaJune 23, 1971 15:30:00.04PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U3fd 37°01′19″N 116°01′24″W / 37.02195°N 116.02345°W / 37.02195; -116.02345 (Laguna)1,186 m (3,891 ft) – 454.92 m (1,492.5 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development
20 kt[1][6][7][9][10]
HarebellJune 24, 1971 14:00:00.16PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U2br 37°08′48″N 116°04′04″W / 37.14665°N 116.0677°W / 37.14665; -116.0677 (Harebell)1,287 m (4,222 ft) – 518.77 m (1,702.0 ft)underground shaft,
weapons development
38 ktVenting detected, 840 Ci (31,000 GBq)[1][3][4][6][7][10]
CamphorJune 29, 1971 18:30:00.16PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U12g.10 37°10′36″N 116°12′45″W / 37.17673°N 116.21237°W / 37.17673; -116.21237 (Camphor)2,289 m (7,510 ft) – 423.67 m (1,390.0 ft)tunnel,
weapon effect
20 ktVenting detected on site, 220 Ci (8,100 GBq)[1][3][4][6][7]

References