In Ekker series, French nuclear tests

In Ekker
Information
Country France
Test site In Ekker, French Algeria (CSEM) - Oasis Military Test Center
Period 1961-1966
Number of tests 14
Test type dry surface, underground tunnel
Max. yield 127 kilotonnes of TNT (530 TJ)
Navigation
Previous test series Reggane series, French nuclear tests
Next test series 1966–70 French nuclear tests

The France's In Ekker nuclear test series[1] was a group of 14 nuclear tests conducted in 1961-1966. These tests followed the Reggane series, French nuclear tests series and preceded the 1966–70 French nuclear tests series.

France's In Ekker series tests and detonations
Name [note 1] Date time (UT) Local time zone [note 2][2] Location [note 3] Elevation + height [note 4] Delivery, [note 5]
Purpose [note 6]		 Device [note 7] Yield [note 8] Fallout [note 9] References Notes
Agathe 7 November 1961 11:29:59.931 CET (1 hrs)
 In Ekker, French Algeria (CSEM) - Oasis Military Test Center: E1 24°03′26″N 5°03′07″E / 24.0571°N 5.05192°E / 24.0571; 5.05192 (Agathe) 1,050 m (3,440 ft) + underground tunnel,
weapons development		 10 kt [1][3][4]
Béryl 1 May 1962 10:00:00.458 CET (1 hrs)
 In Ekker, French Algeria (CSEM) - Oasis Military Test Center: E2north 24°03′47″N 5°02′30″E / 24.06319°N 5.04171°E / 24.06319; 5.04171 (Béryl) 1,050 m (3,440 ft) + underground tunnel,
weapons development		 AN-11 40 kt Venting detected [1][3][4] Accidental radioactivity release exposed army regulars and threatened VIPs.
Emeraude (Georgette) 18 March 1963 10:02:00.351 CET (1 hrs)
 In Ekker, French Algeria (CSEM) - Oasis Military Test Center: E3bis 24°02′29″N 5°03′07″E / 24.04147°N 5.05191°E / 24.04147; 5.05191 (Emeraude (Georgette)) 1,050 m (3,440 ft) + underground tunnel,
weapons development		 10 kt [1][3][4] This was the first test conducted after Algeria gained formal independence. Accidental radioactivity release. Name in parenthesis is that used by APEX (Application pacifique des expérimentations nucléaires ), a peaceful use organization.
Améthyste 30 March 1963 09:59:00.328 CET (1 hrs)
 In Ekker, French Algeria (CSEM) - Oasis Military Test Center: E3 24°02′36″N 5°03′24″E / 24.0434°N 5.05672°E / 24.0434; 5.05672 (Améthyste) 1,050 m (3,440 ft) + underground tunnel,
weapons development		 2.5 kt Venting detected [1][3][4]
Rubis 20 October 1963 13:00:00.011 WET (0 hrs)
 In Ekker, French Algeria (CSEM) - Oasis Military Test Center: E11 24°02′06″N 5°02′12″E / 24.03495°N 5.03666°E / 24.03495; 5.03666 (Rubis) 1,050 m (3,440 ft) + underground tunnel,
weapons development		 52 kt Venting detected [1][3][4]
Opale (Michele) 14 February 1964 11:00:00.347 WET (0 hrs)
 In Ekker, French Algeria (CSEM) - Oasis Military Test Center: E1 24°03′14″N 5°03′07″E / 24.05377°N 5.05206°E / 24.05377; 5.05206 (Opale (Michele)) 1,050 m (3,440 ft) + underground tunnel,
weapons development		 3.7 kt [1][3][4] "Michele" name used by APEX (Application pacifique des expérimentations nucléaires ).
Pollen
(5 separate events)		 May 1964 through March 1966 WET (0 hrs)
 In Ekker, French Algeria (CSEM) - Oasis Military Test Center: Tikertine 23°55′57″N 4°44′27″E / 23.9325°N 4.7408°E / 23.9325; 4.7408 (Pollen) 967 m (3,173 ft) + 0 dry surface,
safety experiment		 no yield [3] Plutonium dispersal tests - presumably like Roller Coaster. Test site is near the Adrar Tikertine rock outcrop.
Topaze 15 June 1964 13:40:00.367 WET (0 hrs)
 In Ekker, French Algeria (CSEM) - Oasis Military Test Center: E6 24°04′00″N 5°02′04″E / 24.06665°N 5.03431°E / 24.06665; 5.03431 (Topaze) 1,050 m (3,440 ft) + underground tunnel,
weapons development		 2.5 kt [1][3][4]
Turquoise 28 November 1964 10:30:00.035 WET (0 hrs)
 In Ekker, French Algeria (CSEM) - Oasis Military Test Center: E5 24°02′30″N 5°02′30″E / 24.04162°N 5.04162°E / 24.04162; 5.04162 (Turquoise) 1,050 m (3,440 ft) + underground tunnel,
weapons development		 10 kt [1][3][4]
Saphir (Monique) 27 February 1965 11:30:00.039 WET (0 hrs)
 In Ekker, French Algeria (CSEM) - Oasis Military Test Center: E8 24°03′31″N 5°01′53″E / 24.05871°N 5.03133°E / 24.05871; 5.03133 (Saphir (Monique)) 1,050 m (3,440 ft) + underground tunnel,
weapons development		 127 kt [1][3][4] Largest underground test in Algeria. "Monique" name used by APEX (Application pacifique des expérimentations nucléaires ).
Jade 30 May 1965 11:00:00.037 WET (0 hrs)
 In Ekker, French Algeria (CSEM) - Oasis Military Test Center: E1 24°03′18″N 5°03′02″E / 24.05508°N 5.05056°E / 24.05508; 5.05056 (Jade) 1,050 m (3,440 ft) + underground tunnel,
weapons development		 2.5 kt Venting detected [1][3][4]
Corindon 1 October 1965 10:00:00.043 WET (0 hrs)
 In Ekker, French Algeria (CSEM) - Oasis Military Test Center: E7 24°03′54″N 5°02′02″E / 24.06495°N 5.0339°E / 24.06495; 5.0339 (Corindon) 1,050 m (3,440 ft) + underground tunnel,
weapons development		 2.5 kt [1][3][4]
Tourmaline 1 December 1965 10:30:00.088 WET (0 hrs)
 In Ekker, French Algeria (CSEM) - Oasis Military Test Center: E5 24°02′38″N 5°02′48″E / 24.04376°N 5.04666°E / 24.04376; 5.04666 (Tourmaline) 1,050 m (3,440 ft) + underground tunnel,
weapons development		 10 kt [1][3][4]
Grenat (Carmen) 16 February 1966 11:00:00.035 WET (0 hrs)
 In Ekker, French Algeria (CSEM) - Oasis Military Test Center: E4 24°02′41″N 5°02′29″E / 24.04475°N 5.04132°E / 24.04475; 5.04132 (Grenat (Carmen)) 1,050 m (3,440 ft) + underground tunnel,
weapons development		 13 kt [1][3][4] "Carmen" name used by APEX (Application pacifique des expérimentations nucléaires ).
  1. ↑ The US, France and Great Britain have code-named their test events, while the USSR and China did not, and therefore have only test numbers (with some exceptions – Soviet peaceful explosions were named). Word translations into English in parentheses unless the name is a proper noun. A dash followed by a number indicates a member of a salvo event. The US also sometimes named the individual explosions in such a salvo test, which results in "name1 – 1(with name2)". If test is canceled or aborted, then the row data like date and location discloses the intended plans, where known.
  2. ↑ To convert the UT time into standard local, add the number of hours in parentheses to the UT time; for local daylight saving time, add one additional hour. If the result is earlier than 00:00, add 24 hours and subtract 1 from the day; if it is 24:00 or later, subtract 24 hours and add 1 to the day. All historical timezone data are derived from here:
  3. ↑ Rough place name and a latitude/longitude reference; for rocket-carried tests, the launch location is specified before the detonation location, if known. Some locations are extremely accurate; others (like airdrops and space blasts) may be quite inaccurate. "~" indicates a likely pro-forma rough location, shared with other tests in that same area.
  4. ↑ Elevation is the ground level at the point directly below the explosion relative to sea level; height is the additional distance added or subtracted by tower, balloon, shaft, tunnel, air drop or other contrivance. For rocket bursts the ground level is "N/A". In some cases it is not clear if the height is absolute or relative to ground, for example, Plumbbob/John. No number or units indicates the value is unknown, while "0" means zero. Sorting on this column is by elevation and height added together.
  5. ↑ Atmospheric, airdrop, balloon, gun, cruise missile, rocket, surface, tower, and barge are all disallowed by the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Sealed shaft and tunnel are underground, and remained useful under the PTBT. Intentional cratering tests are borderline; they occurred under the treaty, were sometimes protested, and generally overlooked if the test was declared to be a peaceful use.
  6. ↑ Include weapons development, weapon effects, safety test, transport safety test, war, science, joint verification and industrial/peaceful, which may be further broken down.
  7. ↑ Designations for test items where known, "?" indicates some uncertainty about the preceding value, nicknames for particular devices in quotes. This category of information is often not officially disclosed.
  8. ↑ Estimated energy yield in tons, kilotons, and megatons. A ton of TNT equivalent is defined as 4.184 gigajoules (1 gigacalorie).
  9. ↑ Radioactive emission to the atmosphere aside from prompt neutrons, where known. The measured species is only iodine-131 if mentioned, otherwise it is all species. No entry means unknown, probably none if underground and "all" if not; otherwise notation for whether measured on the site only or off the site, where known, and the measured amount of radioactivity released.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Yang, Xiaoping; North, Robert; Romney, Carl (August 2000). CMR Nuclear Explosion Database (Revision 3) (Technical report). SMDC Monitoring Research.
  2. ↑ "Timezone Historical Database". iana.com. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Radiological Conditions at the Former French Nuclear Test Sites in Algeria: Preliminary Assessment and Recommendations (PDF) (Technical report). Vienna, Austria: International Atomic Energy Agency. March 1, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Norris, Robert S.; Burrows, Andrew S.; Fieldhouse, Richard W. (1994). Nuclear Weapons Databook, Vol. 5: British, French, and Chinese Nuclear Weapons. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
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