In Ekker series, French nuclear tests

In Ekker series

Location of the Oasis Military Experiments Centre (CEMO)

Information
Country|  France
Test site| In Ekker, French Algeria
Coordinates| 24°03′25″N 05°03′06″E﻿ / ﻿24.05694°N 5.05167°E﻿ / 24.05694; 5.05167
Period| 1961–1966
Number of tests| 13 + 5 AN-11/21
Test type| Underground
Device type| A-bombs
Max. yield| 127 kt (531.4 TJ)
Test series chronology

<- Reggane series

1966–70 series ->

In Ekker was a series of 13 underground nuclear tests and five atmospheric nuclear tests by France between November 1961 and February 1966.[1] The bombs were detonated at the Oasis Military Experiments Centre 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. The series saw the explosion of the first AN-11/21 bombs and was followed by the 1966–1970 series.

## Codenames[edit]

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[edit]

Codename[a] | Date time (UTC)  | Location | Elevation | Altitude | Delivery  | Purpose  | Device | Yield | Fallout[b]

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Agate | 1961-11-07 – 11:29:59.9  | Shaft E1 North – CEMO
Tan Afella, In Ekker, French Algeria
24°03′25″N 05°03′06″E﻿ / ﻿24.05694°N 5.05167°E﻿ / 24.05694; 5.05167﻿ (Agate) | 1,400 m  | 0 m[c] | 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 – CEMO
Tan Afella, In Ekker, French Algeria
24°03′47″N 05°02′30″E﻿ / ﻿24.06306°N 5.04167°E﻿ / 24.06306; 5.04167﻿ (Béryl) | 1,580 m  | 0 m[c] | Tunnel  |

* Test of an AN-11 bomb

| S2[d] | >30.0 kt  | After few minutes:[e] 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 – CEMO
Tan Afella, In Ekker, French Algeria
24°02′29″N 05°03′09″E﻿ / ﻿24.04139°N 5.05250°E﻿ / 24.04139; 5.05250﻿ (Émeraude) | 1,540 m  | 0 m[c] | Tunnel  |  |  | 10.0 kt  | After 8 hours: 0.400 mGy/h (Drilling T32)
Améthyste | 1963-03-30 – 09:59:00.3  | Shaft E3 Bis – CEMO
Tan Afella, In Ekker, French Algeria
24°02′36″N 05°03′24″E﻿ / ﻿24.04333°N 5.05667°E﻿ / 24.04333; 5.05667﻿ (Améthyste) | 1,220 m  | 0 m[c] | Tunnel  |

* Reuse of plutonium
* Test of new neutron detection devices

| P1  | 0.85 kt  | After 20 minutes:[e] 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 – CEMO
Tan Afella, In Ekker, French Algeria
24°02′05″N 05°02′12″E﻿ / ﻿24.03472°N 5.03667°E﻿ / 24.03472; 5.03667﻿ (Rubis) | 1,510 m  | 0 m[c] | Tunnel  |  |  | 68.0 kt  | After 1 hour:[e] 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 – CEMO
Tan Afella, In Ekker, French Algeria
24°03′13″N 05°03′07″E﻿ / ﻿24.05361°N 5.05194°E﻿ / 24.05361; 5.05194﻿ (Opale) | 1,380 m  | 0 m[c] | Tunnel  |  |  | 3.7 kt  | After 6 hours: 0.050 mGy/h (Drilling T12)
Pollen I | 1964-05-08 – ??:??:??.?  | Shooting range – CEMO
Tan Ataram, In Ekker, French Algeria
23°55′57″N 04°44′26″E﻿ / ﻿23.93250°N 4.74056°E﻿ / 23.93250; 4.74056﻿ (Pollen) | 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 – CEMO
Tan Afella, In Ekker, French Algeria
24°03′59″N 05°02′03″E﻿ / ﻿24.06639°N 5.03417°E﻿ / 24.06639; 5.03417﻿ (Topaze) | 1,410 m  | 0 m[c] | 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 – CEMO
Tan Afella, In Ekker, French Algeria
24°02′30″N 05°02′29″E﻿ / ﻿24.04167°N 5.04139°E﻿ / 24.04167; 5.04139﻿ (Turquoise) | 1,760 m  | 0 m[c] | Tunnel  |

* Fusion of lithium deuterium with plutonium
* Evacuation exercises[f]

| H2  | 5 kt  | None
Pollen Rose | 1964-12-31 – 06:28:??.?  | Shooting range – CEMO
Tan Ataram, In Ekker, French Algeria
23°55′57″N 04°44′26″E﻿ / ﻿23.93250°N 4.74056°E﻿ / 23.93250; 4.74056 | 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 – CEMO
Tan Afella, In Ekker, French Algeria
24°03′31″N 05°01′52″E﻿ / ﻿24.05861°N 5.03111°E﻿ / 24.05861; 5.03111﻿ (Saphir) | 1,830 m  | 0 m[c] | Tunnel  |  | B1  | 117 kt  | Leak of noble gases (Drilling T71)
Jade | 1965-05-30 – 11:00:00.0  | Shaft E1-3 – CEMO
Tan Afella, In Ekker, French Algeria
24°03′18″N 05°03′02″E﻿ / ﻿24.05500°N 5.05056°E﻿ / 24.05500; 5.05056﻿ (Jade) | 1,460 m  | 0 m[c] | Tunnel  | *Axial prototype  | A2  | 0.6 kt  | After 2 hours:[e] 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 – CEMO
Tan Afella, In Ekker, French Algeria
24°03′53″N 05°02′02″E﻿ / ﻿24.06472°N 5.03389°E﻿ / 24.06472; 5.03389﻿ (Corindon) | 1,500 m  | 0 m[c] | 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 Rouge | 1965-11-01 – 21:53:??.?  | Shooting range – CEMO
Tan Ataram, In Ekker, French Algeria
23°55′57″N 04°44′26″E﻿ / ﻿23.93250°N 4.74056°E﻿ / 23.93250; 4.74056 | 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 – CEMO
Tan Afella, In Ekker, French Algeria
24°02′37″N 05°02′48″E﻿ / ﻿24.04361°N 5.04667°E﻿ / 24.04361; 5.04667﻿ (Tourmaline) | 1,600 m  | 0 m[c] | 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 Safran | 1966-01-10 – 02:06:??.?  | Shooting range – CEMO
Tan Ataram, In Ekker, French Algeria
23°55′57″N 04°44′26″E﻿ / ﻿23.93250°N 4.74056°E﻿ / 23.93250; 4.74056 | 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 – CEMO
Tan Afella, In Ekker, French Algeria
24°02′41″N 05°02′28″E﻿ / ﻿24.04472°N 5.04111°E﻿ / 24.04472; 5.04111﻿ (Grenat) | 1,760 m  | 0 m[c] | Tunnel  |

* Same purposes as Tourmaline, under different conditions

| G'3  | 13 kt  | After 2 hours: 0.005 Gy/h (Drilling T42)
Pollen Jonquille | 1966-03-09 – 22:12:??.?  | Shooting range – CEMO
Tan Ataram, In Ekker, French Algeria
23°55′57″N 04°44′26″E﻿ / ﻿23.93250°N 4.74056°E﻿ / 23.93250; 4.74056 | 940 m  | +1 m  | Tower  |

* Assessment of plutonium contamination during a simulated accident

| AN-21 | N/A  | Contaminated area of 2.750 km2
References : [2][3][4][5][6]

## See also[edit]

Map all coordinates in "In Ekker series, French nuclear tests" using: OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as: KML

* List of nuclear weapons tests of France
* Nuclear weapons and France
* Force de Frappe
* History of nuclear weapons

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ Parenthesis indicate the name given by the APEX (Application Pacifique des EXpérimentations nucléaires), a peaceful use organization.
2. ^ Original 1960's numbers are in rad/h and were converted to Gy/h, the SI derived unit for ionizing radiation dose.
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Horizontal tunnel of 1,000 m.
4. ^ Emergency device S3 ready had S2 failed.
5. ^ a b c d Uncontained explosion
6. ^ Operations Diaspora, Lapin Bleu, Lapin Blanc, Lapin Rouge and Tortue.

## References[edit]

1. ^ Senate of the French Republic (15 December 1997). "French Senate report #179: The first French tests in the Sahara". senat.fr (in French). Retrieved 10 August 2020.
2. ^ Radiological Conditions at the Former French Nuclear Test Sites in Algeria: Preliminary Assessment and Recommendations (PDF) (Technical report). Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency. 1 March 2005. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
3. ^ Report on French Nuclear Tests (1960-1996) (PDF) (Technical report) (in French). Government of the French Republic. p. 118. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
4. ^ Yang, Xiaoping; North, Robert; Romney, Carl. Worldwide Nuclear Explosions (PDF) (Technical report). Science Applications International Corporation, Center for Monitoring Research. p. 20. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
5. ^ Report on health and environmental hazards of France's nuclear tests between 1960 and 1996 [...] (PDF) (Technical report) (in French). Paris: National Assembly of the French Republic. 5 February 2001. p. 36. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
6. ^ French Nuclear Testing, 1960-1988 (PDF) (Technical report). New York: Natural Resources Defense Council. February 1989. p. 26. Retrieved 11 August 2020.

* v
* t
* e

Nuclear weapons tests conducted by France

Reggane series|

* Gerboise Bleue
* Gerboise Blanche
* Gerboise Rouge
* Gerboise Verte

In Ekker series|

* Agate
* Béryl
* Émeraude
* Améthyste
* Rubis
* Opale
* Topaze
* Turquoise
* Saphir
* Jade
* Corindon
* Tourmaline
* Grenat

1966–70 series|

* Aldébaran
* Tamouré
* Ganymède
* Bételgeuse
* Rigel
* Sirius
* Altaïr
* Arcturus
* Capella
* Castor
* Pollux
* Canopus
* Procyon
* Andromède
* Cassiopée
* Dragon
* Eridan
* Licorne
* Pégaze
* Orion
* Toucan

1971–74 series|

* Dioné
* Encelade
* Japet
* Phoebe
* Rhéa
* Umbriel
* Titania
* Oberon
* Ariel
* Euterpe
* Melpomene
* Pallas
* Parthenope
* Tamara
* Vesta
* Capricorne
* Bélier
* Gémeaux
* Centaure
* Maquis
* Persée
* Scorpion
* Taureau
* Verseau

1975–78 series|

* Achille
* Hector
* Patrocle
* Ménélas
* Calypso
* Ulysse A
* Astyanax
* Ulysse B
* Nestor
* Œdipe
* Andromaque
* Ajax
* Clytemnestre
* Oreste
* Énée
* Laocoon
* Polyphème
* Dindon
* Pylade
* Hécube
* Xanthos
* Arès
* Idoménée
* Schédios
* Aphrodite
* Priam
* Dolon
* Étéocle
* Eumée

Testing areas|

* Saharan Military Experiments Centre (CSEM)
* Oasis Military Experiments Centre (CEMO)
* Pacific Experiments Centre (CEP)

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