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View the natural analogues that are presently being investigated by NAWG members.

Examples of natural analogues

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  • Natural Analogues Library

    Browse our online library of publications and papers from NAWG members covering many topics associated with natural analogues. View presentations from the annual NAWG meetings

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Welcome to the Natural Analogues Working Group website

 

NAWG logo ManU NWS gov logo

GTK logo 2019

NAWG-18 venue, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, UK

UniManDeptImage courtesy Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester

Workshop Programme (draft)

 

Sessions/Topics

Presenter

Session chair

MONDAY June 8th

18:00

Pre-meeting meet-up

TUESDAY June 9th

1.    Introduction and keynote

9:00-9:10

Welcome and programme of the workshop, practical info

Heini Reijonen, GTK Simon Norris, NWS and Kevin Taylor, University of Manchester

Kevin Taylor

9:10-09:40

Brief history of NAWG

Russell Alexander

 

2.    NA studies in RWM projects worldwide

9:40-10:00

NWS programme – recent updates

Simon Norris, NWS

Kevin Taylor

10:00-10:20

Approach to compilation of a natural analogue database for geological disposal programme

Yusaku Takubo, NUMO

10:20-10:50

Coffee/tea

10:50-11:10

Natural Analogues in support of the Swiss Safety Case (NTB 24‑10) within the General Licence Application submitted in 2024

Raphael Wüst, Nagra

11:10-11:30

A Dutch natural analogue for disposal of depleted uranium

Erika Neeft, COVRA

3.    Studies on host rocks and migration studies

11:30-11:50

Natural outcrops for understanding variability of Jurassic lower strength sedimentary rocks in the UK

Kevin Taylor, University of Manchester

Simon Norris

11:50-12:10

Endmember lithological variability of the Triassic Mercia Mudstone Group, northwest England: implications for nuclear waste disposal concepts.

Holly Mills, University of Manchester

12:10-13:30

Lunch

13:30-13:50

Use of natural analogues to test the consistency of Kd values in performance assessment

James Crawford, Kemakta Konsult AB

13:50-14:10

Paleohydrogeological controls on natural tracer profiles in Northern Switzerland

Tim Schöne, GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences

14:10-14:30

Trace element study in sediment and groundwater of Paleogene Formations in Zeeland, the Netherlands

Alwina Hoving, TNO Geological Survey of the Netherlands

14:30-14:50

Simulation of iodine migration at Cigar Lake – A natural analog study

Theresa Hennig, GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences

14:50-15:20

Coffee/tea

15:20-15:40

Influence of groundwater residence time on radionuclides and bentonite colloids retention at the Grimsel Test Site

Francesca Quinto, KIT/INE

15:40-16:00

Charge reversal and competitive sorption of trivalent ions on aluminosilicate surfaces: Implications for radionuclide retention in crystalline host rocks

Bahram Hosseini Monjezi, KIT/INE

4.    EBS – Container analogues

16:00-16.20

Michigan International Copper Analogue (MICA) II project – recent advances

Heini Reijonen, GTK

TBD

16:20-16:40

Steel analogues (Provisional)

TBD

16:40-17:00

TBD

19:00-

Dinner

WEDNESDAY June 10th

5.    EBS – Waste analogues

9:00-9:20

Insights into uranium behaviour mediated by indigenous bacteria across pH conditions

Dawoon Jeong, KAERI

Heini Reijonen

9:20-9:40

Insights into long-term vitrified waste corrosion mechanisms learned from glasses exposed to complex natural environments

Clare Thorpe, University of Sheffield

9:40-10:00

From experiments to modelling: natural and anthropic glass analogue studies for nuclear waste confinement matrix

Delphine Neff, CEA

6.    EBS – Clay analogues

10:00-10:20

Deep geological Kiirunavaara smectites, northern Sweden: a natural analogue of long-term stability of clay minerals

Raphael Schneeberger

(presented by Raphael Wüst), Nagra

Erika Neeft

10:20-10:50

Coffee/tea

10:50-11:10

MORO project: insights to spatial stability and integrity of montmorillonite in crystalline fractured environments, Finland

Heini Reijonen, GTK

11:10-11:30

International Bentonite Longevity (IBL) project: an introduction and overview of Phases A and B

Russell Alexander

11:30-11:50

International Bentonite Longevity (IBL) project: The potential for bentonite erosion under river flow condition

Ryosuke Kikutchi, University of Hokkaido

11:50-12:10

International Bentonite Longevity (IBL) project: Deformation and heterogeneity & outlook for Phase C

Heini Reijonen, GTK

12:30-13:30

Lunch

13:30-13:50

Multiscale microstructural controls on swelling behaviour of cemented bentonite

Tobimaru Ishiwata, Hokkaido University

13:50-14:10

International Bentonite Longevity (IBL) project: Microbial analysis of Tsukinuno mine bentonite as a natural analogue for a nuclear waste repository

Rachel Beaver, University of Waterloo

7.    Stakeholder communications

14:10-14:30

geosafe.info European Web site: A bilingual (English and Nation State language) pedagogical website with a content managed quiz feature enabling municipalities and communities to understand what siting a DGR involves. Additionally, a restricted user area for comms between graduates, Universities, TSO's, Municipalities, Regulators and WMO's.

Colin Wales, SITEX

Simon Norris

14:30-14:50

NATSTRAT the new EURAD-2 WP proposal

Heini Reijonen, GTK

14:50-15:20

Coffee/tea

 

8.    Special session on Harpur Hill – field trip site

15:20-15:40

Geomicrobiological studies in a high-pH system, Harpur Hill, Derbyshire, UK

Rebecca Snow

Heini Reijonen

15:40-16:00

Harpur hill geology

Russell Alexander

 

Closing of the workshop

16:00-~17:00

Closing remarks and way forward with NAWG – publication plans

Heini Reijonen + all

THURSDAY June 11th

9:00-15:30

Field trip to Harpur Hill by bus* (picnic lunch)

Pick-up point: Manchester Museum, Oxford Road (opposite to Williamson Building)

The terrain needs good shoes (trainers or similar) and might be wet and muddy. The field often contain livestock (cows). Otherwise follow the forecast for the gear for a day out.

 

Participation & Submissions

For any questions, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Important dates

 

Registration deadline: May 15th 2026 (but please register as early as possible it may close earlier). There will be a cap at 30 participants on the basis 1st come 1st served.

Full paper deadline: End of July 2026

 

NAWG logo ManU NWS gov logo

GTK logo 2019

NAWG-18 venue, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, UK

UniManDeptImage courtesy Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester

Workshop Overview

NAWG (Natural Analogue Working Group, chair Prof Heini Reijonen, Geological Survey of Finland), in association with Prof Kevin Taylor (University of Manchester, UK) and Prof Simon Norris (Nuclear Waste Services and University of Manchester, UK), is pleased to invite you to the 18th NAWG workshop, to be held in Manchester, UK, on 9-11th June, 2026.

The NAWG-18 workshop will be an opportunity to explore recent developments in the use of natural analogues (NA) in the field of geological disposal of radioactive waste. Extensive scope of NAs is reflected in the preliminary topical session list (below), but we are also happy to receive proposals for additional sessions. The scope covers all geological disposal concepts for HLW, ILW, LLW, including alternative concepts.

Schedule

Monday, 8th June: Travel to Manchester, ice breaker in the evening.

Tuesday, 9th June: Workshop sessions

Wednesday, 10th June: Workshop sessions and workshop dinner

Thursday, 11th June: Field trip (Harpur Hill and surroundings)

Posters will be on display throughout the workshop (session reserved for Tuesday afternoon)

Preliminary Topical Sessions

  • Siting and site characterisation
    • NA studies in support of repository siting
    • Direct NA technical input to site characterisation
    • Using NAs to communicate with local communities
  • NAs in stakeholder communications
    • What has been achieved so far?
    • Previous mistakes made through over-simplification of the messages
    • Where to now – examples of current thinking, how to learn from science on other media?
  • NA in the safety case
    • Recent examples of NA support of the safety case
    • What should NA bring to the safety case – the view of the regulator
    • Use of NA information in licence applications
  • Longevity of the engineered barrier systems (EBS)
    • Waste forms
    • Waste packages
    • Buffers, backfills, seals, earth covers
  • Host rock studies
    • External processes (climate, biosphere, seismicity etc.) potentially affecting repository performance
    • Radionuclide migration in the geosphere
    • Impact of potential EBS-host rock interaction
    • Deep borehole disposal – relevant analogues for deep geosphere
  • Knowledge management (KM)
    • How to ensure inclusion of NAs in national/international programmes (e.g. EURATOM, IAEA, NEA)?
    • What can/should NAWG contribute?
    • NA Knowledge Management examples

Participation & Submissions

For any questions, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Registration has been opened here. You can submit your presentation topic(s) and title when you register.

Abstract template can be downloaded from here. Submit your abstract directly to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Important dates

Abstract submission deadline: end of March 2026 --> extended to April 17th  2026.

Registration deadline: May 15th 2026 (but please register as early as possible it may close earlier). There will be a cap at 30 participants on the basis 1st come 1st served.

Full paper deadline: End of July 2026