Operation Touchstone

{{Infobox nuclear weapons test

|name = Touchstone

|picture = File:Touchstone_Kearsarge_001.jpg

|picture_description = A Soviet flag is raised next to an American flag at the Nevada Test Site as part of the Joint Verification Experiment

|country = United States

|test_site = NTS Area 12, Rainier Mesa; NTS Area 19, 20, Pahute Mesa; NTS, Areas 1–4, 6–10, Yucca Flat

|period = 1987–1988

|number_of_tests = 13

|test_type = underground shaft, tunnel

|max_yield = {{convert|150|ktTNT|lk=in}}

|previous_series = Operation Musketeer

|next_series = Operation Cornerstone

}}

The United States's Touchstone nuclear test series was a group of 13 nuclear tests conducted in 1987–1988. These tests A bomb test may be a salvo test, defined as two or more explosions "where a period of time between successive individual explosions does not exceed 5 seconds and where the burial points of all explosive devices can be connected by segments of straight lines, each of them connecting two burial points and does not exceed 40 kilometers in length".{{cite web|first=V. N.|last=Mikhailov|title=Catalog of World Wide Nuclear Testing|publisher=Begell-Atom|url=http://www.iss-atom.ru/ksenia/catal_nt/1.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426102201/http://www.iss-atom.ru/ksenia/catal_nt/1.htm|archive-date=April 26, 2014}} followed the Operation Musketeer series and preceded the Operation Cornerstone series.

Joint Verification Experiment (JVE)

The series included Touchstone Kearsarge, a joint US-Soviet test as part of the Joint Verification Experiment (JVE). The JVE's purpose was to provide yield data to both parties about each other's nuclear test sites so that accurate remote measurements could be taken to verify each other's compliance with the Threshold Test Ban Treaty (TTBT).{{Cite web |date=2021-06-13 |title=Joint Verification Experiment {{!}} Doomed to Cooperate |url=https://lab2lab.stanford.edu/lab-lab/joint-verification-experiment |access-date=2024-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613152450/https://lab2lab.stanford.edu/lab-lab/joint-verification-experiment |archive-date=June 13, 2021 }}{{Cite web |date=2019-03-26 |title=Joint Verification Experiment |url=https://nonproliferation.org/lab-to-lab-joint-verification-experiment/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies |language=en-US}}

List of the nuclear tests

class="wikitable sortable" \|+ United States' Touchstone series tests and detonations
style="background:#ffdead;" \| Name 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. !style="background:#efefef;" \| Date time (UT) !style="background:#ffdead;" \| Local time zoneTo 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. Historical time zone data obtained from the IANA time zone database.{{cite web\| title=Time Zone Historical Database\| publisher=iana.com\| url=http://www.ietf.org/timezones/\| access-date=March 8, 2014}} !style="background:#efefef;" \| LocationRough 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. !style="background:#ffdead;" \| Elevation + height 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. !style="background:#efefef;" \| Delivery 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. Purpose Include weapons development, weapon effects, safety test, transport safety test, war, science, joint verification and industrial/peaceful, which may be further broken down. !style="background:#efefef;" \| DeviceDesignations 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. !style="background:#ffdead;" \| YieldEstimated energy yield in tons, kilotons, and megatons. A ton of TNT equivalent is defined as 4.184 gigajoules (1 gigacalorie). !style="background:#efefef;" class="unsortable" \| FalloutRadioactive 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. !style="background:#ffdead;" class="unsortable" \| References !style="background:#efefef;" class="unsortable" \| Notes
Borate{{anchor\|Borate}} \| {{dts\|1987\|10\|23}} 16:00:00.09 \| style="text-align:center;" \| PST (–8 hrs) \|\| NTS Area U2ge {{coord\|37.14185
116.07957\|name=Borate\|display=inline}} \| {{sort\|000751

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ United States' Touchstone series tests and detonations

style="background:#ffdead;" | Name 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.

!style="background:#efefef;" | Date time (UT)

!style="background:#ffdead;" | Local time zoneTo 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. Historical time zone data obtained from the IANA time zone database.{{cite web| title=Time Zone Historical Database| publisher=iana.com| url=http://www.ietf.org/timezones/| access-date=March 8, 2014}}

!style="background:#efefef;" | LocationRough 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.

!style="background:#ffdead;" | Elevation + height 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.

!style="background:#efefef;" | Delivery 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.
Purpose Include weapons development, weapon effects, safety test, transport safety test, war, science, joint verification and industrial/peaceful, which may be further broken down.

!style="background:#efefef;" | DeviceDesignations 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.

!style="background:#ffdead;" | YieldEstimated energy yield in tons, kilotons, and megatons. A ton of TNT equivalent is defined as 4.184 gigajoules (1 gigacalorie).

!style="background:#efefef;" class="unsortable" | FalloutRadioactive 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.

!style="background:#ffdead;" class="unsortable" | References

!style="background:#efefef;" class="unsortable" | Notes

Borate{{anchor|Borate}}

| {{dts|1987|10|23}} 16:00:00.09

| style="text-align:center;" | PST (–8 hrs)
|| NTS Area U2ge {{coord|37.14185

116.07957|name=Borate|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000751

}{{convert|1294|m|abbr=on}} – {{convert|542.5|m|abbr=on}}

| underground shaft,
weapons development

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000380000|38 kt}}

| I-131 venting detected, 0

! Waco{{anchor|Waco}}

| {{dts|1987|12|1}} 16:30:00.09

| style="text-align:center;" | PST (–8 hrs)
|| NTS Area U3lu {{coord|36.99636|-116.00533|name=Waco|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000993|}}{{convert|1176|m|abbr=on}} – {{convert|182.9|m|abbr=on}}

| underground shaft,
weapons development

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000000000|less than 20 kt}}

! Mission Cyber{{anchor|Mission Cyber}}

| {{dts|1987|12|2}} 16:00:00.084

| style="text-align:center;" | PST (–8 hrs)
|| NTS Area U12p.02 {{coord|37.2346|-116.16425|name=Mission Cyber|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001655|}}{{convert|1926|m|abbr=on}} – {{convert|270.6|m|abbr=on}}

| tunnel,
weapon effect

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000020000|2 kt}}

! Kernville{{anchor|Kernville}}

| {{dts|1988|2|15}} 18:10:00.089

| style="text-align:center;" | PST (–8 hrs)
|| NTS Area U20ar {{coord|37.31431|-116.47253|name=Kernville|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001357|}}{{convert|1899|m|abbr=on}} – {{convert|541.6|m|abbr=on}}

| underground shaft,
weapons development

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000600000|60 kt}}

! Abilene{{anchor|Abilene}}

| {{dts|1988|4|7}} 17:15:00.078

| style="text-align:center;" | PST (–8 hrs)
|| NTS Area U3mn {{coord|37.01311|-116.04519|name=Abilene|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000941|}}{{convert|1187|m|abbr=on}} – {{convert|245.06|m|abbr=on}}

| underground shaft,
weapons development

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000020000|2 kt}}

! Schellbourne{{anchor|Schellbourne}}

| {{dts|1988|5|13}} 15:35:00.108

| style="text-align:center;" | PST (–8 hrs)
|| NTS Area U2gf {{coord|37.12439|-116.073|name=Schellbourne|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000805|}}{{convert|1268|m|abbr=on}} – {{convert|463|m|abbr=on}}

| underground shaft,
weapons development

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000160000|16 kt}}

| Venting detected, {{convert|22|Ci|GBq|abbr=on}}

! Laredo{{anchor|Laredo}}

| {{dts|1988|5|21}} 22:30:00.14

| style="text-align:center;" | PST (–8 hrs)
|| NTS Area U3mh {{coord|37.03245|-115.98814|name=Laredo|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000868|}}{{convert|1220|m|abbr=on}} – {{convert|351.4|m|abbr=on}}

| underground shaft,
weapons development

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000035000|3.5 kt}}

! Comstock{{anchor|Comstock}}

| {{dts|1988|6|2}} 13:00:00.088

| style="text-align:center;" | PST (–8 hrs)
|| NTS Area U20ay {{coord|37.26008|-116.44197|name=Comstock|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001339|}}{{convert|1960|m|abbr=on}} – {{convert|620.3|m|abbr=on}}

| underground shaft,
weapons development

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000800000|80 kt}}

| Venting detected

! Nightingale - 2 (with Rhyolite){{anchor|Nightingale}}

| {{dts|1988|6|22}} 14:00:00.079

| style="text-align:center;" | PST (–8 hrs)
|| NTS Area U2ey {{coord|37.16611|-116.07312|name=Nightingale - 2|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001071|}}{{convert|1309|m|abbr=on}} – {{convert|237.7|m|abbr=on}}

| underground shaft,
safety experiment

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000000000|less than 150 kt}}

| Simultaneous, separate holes.

! Rhyolite - 1 (with Nightengale){{anchor|Rhyolite}}

| {{dts|1988|6|22}} 14:00:00.079

| style="text-align:center;" | PST (–8 hrs)
|| NTS Area U2ey {{coord|37.16611|-116.07312|name=Rhyolite - 1|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001101|}}{{convert|1309|m|abbr=on}} – {{convert|207.3|m|abbr=on}}

| underground shaft,
weapons development

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000000000|less than 150 kt}}

| Simultaneous, separate holes.

! Alamo{{anchor|Alamo}}

| {{dts|1988|7|7}} 15:05:30.07

| style="text-align:center;" | PST (–8 hrs)
|| NTS Area U19au {{coord|37.25239|-116.37756|name=Alamo|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001341|}}{{convert|1964|m|abbr=on}} – {{convert|622.1|m|abbr=on}}

| underground shaft,
weapons development

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|001500000|150 kt}}

! Kearsarge{{anchor|Kearsarge}}

| {{dts|1988|8|17}} 17:00:00.095

| style="text-align:center;" | PST (–8 hrs)
|| NTS Area U19ax {{coord|37.2971|-116.30742|name=Kearsarge|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001486|}}{{convert|2102|m|abbr=on}} – {{convert|615.7|m|abbr=on}}

| underground shaft,
weapons development

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|001400000|140 kt}}

| The American part of the Joint Verification Experiment.

! Harlingen - 1{{anchor|Harlingen}}

| {{dts|1988|8|23}} 18:30:00.08

| style="text-align:center;" | PST (–8 hrs)
|| NTS Area U6g {{coord|36.99113|-116.01887|name=Harlingen - 1|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000885|}}{{convert|1175|m|abbr=on}} – {{convert|289.6|m|abbr=on}}

| underground shaft,
weapons development

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000020000|2 kt}}

| Simultaneous, separate holes.

! Harlingen - 2{{anchor|Harlingen}}

| {{dts|1988|8|23}} 18:30:00.08

| style="text-align:center;" | PST (–8 hrs)
|| NTS Area U6h {{coord|36.98868|-116.01876|name=Harlingen - 2|display=inline}}

| {{sort|001175|}}{{convert|1175|m|abbr=on}} +

| underground shaft,
weapons development

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000000000|less than 20 kt}}

| Simultaneous, separate holes.

! Bullfrog{{anchor|Bullfrog}}

| {{dts|1988|8|30}} 18:00:00.089

| style="text-align:center;" | PST (–8 hrs)
|| NTS Area U4au {{coord|37.08593|-116.06925|name=Bullfrog|display=inline}}

| {{sort|000746|}}{{convert|1236|m|abbr=on}} – {{convert|489.2|m|abbr=on}}

| underground shaft,
weapons development

| style="text-align:center;" | {{sort|000330000|33 kt}}

| Venting detected, {{convert|4|Ci|GBq|abbr=on}}

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{citation| last1=Yang| first1=Xiaoping| first2=Robert| last2=North| first3=Carl| last3=Romney| date=August 2000| title=CMR Nuclear Explosion Database (Revision 3)| publisher=SMDC Monitoring Research}}

{{citation| publisher=Sandia National Laboratories| date=July 1, 1994| title=Official list of underground nuclear explosions| url=http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/Nevada.html| access-date=December 18, 2013}}

{{citation| publisher=DOE Nevada Operations Office| date=August 1996| title=Radiological Effluents Released from U.S. Continental Tests 1961 Through 1992 (DOE/NV-317 Rev. 1)| url=http://www.nv.doe.gov/library/publications/historical/DOENV_317.pdf| access-date=October 31, 2013| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103041622/http://www.nv.doe.gov/library/publications/historical/DOENV_317.pdf| archive-date=November 3, 2013}}

{{citation| last1=Hechanova| first1=Anthony E.| first2=James E.| last2=O'Donnell| date=September 25, 1998| title=Estimates of yield for nuclear tests impacting the groundwater at the Nevada Test Site| publisher=Nuclear Science and Technology Division}}

{{citation| url=http://www.cancer.gov/i131/fallout/Chapter2.pdf| access-date=January 5, 2014| title=Estimated exposures and thyroid doses received by the American people from Iodine-131 in fallout following Nevada atmospheric nuclear bomb tests, Chapter 2| publisher=National Cancer Institute| year=1997}}

{{citation| publisher=Department of Energy, Nevada Operations Office| date=December 1, 2000| title=United States Nuclear Tests: July 1945 through September 1992| type=DOE/NV-209 REV15| location=Las Vegas, NV| url=http://www.nv.doe.gov/library/publications/historical/DOENV_209_REV15.pdf| access-date=December 18, 2013| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061012160826/http://www.nv.doe.gov/library/publications/historical/DOENV_209_REV15.pdf| archive-date=October 12, 2006}}

}}

Category:Explosions in 1987

Category:Explosions in 1988

Touchstone

Category:1987 in military history

Category:1988 in military history

Category:1987 in Nevada

Category:1988 in Nevada

Category:1987 in the environment

Category:1988 in the environment

Category:Soviet Union–United States relations