Constraints on fallout melt glass formation from a near-surface nuclear test

We present major element and actinide composition data from a population of fallout glass samples produced from a single near-surface nuclear detonation. Glass major element compositions indicate that composition of local geology is a primary control on bulk fallout chemical composition. Uranium isotope compositions indicate that vaporized, residual fuel was incorporated into the melts prior to solidification, likely within seconds, and are consistent with two-component mixing between naturally-occurring uranium and residual uranium fuel. Model ages of the residual fuel in fallout are systematically inaccurate, biased towards older ages, and are consistent with two-component mixing between naturally-occurring daughter nuclides in local sediment and decay-derived daughter nuclides from residual nuclear fuel. Multiple processes such as mixing, agglomeration of melted sediment-derived droplets, and incorporation of condensates must all occur within the timescale between sediment melting and melt solidification.