Moruroa
...is, tests were conducted underground at the rate of between four and eleven tests per year. The tests were conducted by boring a shaft into the basalt rocks which form the base of the atoll structure, and lowering the device together with testing equipment into the borehole. After backfilling with drilling debris, the device is detonated. Subsequently, a second shaft is opened into the cavity formed by the explosion to supplement measurements made in the first few milliseconds of the explosion. The shafts drilled ranged in depths from 500-1200 metres into the basalt core. Initially, shafts were drilled into the outer rim of the lagoon, but since 1981 higher yield tests were shifted to shafts drilled under the central lagoon. And in 1986 all testing activity was shifted to the central zone. In the 1950’s, there were concerns about the health implications of testing nuclear weapons in the atmosphere. These concerns led to discussions by the USA, USSR, and Britain about stopping testing nuclear weapons in the atmosphere which then lead to the “Partial test ban treaty”. This enforcement of the treaty considerably reduced the amount of radioactive fallout in the atmosphere. There was also commitment to negotiate a “Comprehensive test ban”, to stop all nuclear weapons testing. After thirty-two years this test ban treaty is supposable near completion. This possibility has been queried as being a relevant reason why China and France wanted to get as much testing done before 1996. In May 1995, the French Government announced their plans to resume testing nuclear weapons in the Pacific. France said that South Pacific nations should be “rejoicing at the decision because this was the last testing, and they would cease all testing from 1996”. Foreign Minister, Herve de Charette said that eight planned tests at the Moruroa atoll in French Polynesia were essential to guarantee France’s nuclear deterrent and to yield data to allow computer simulations to replace live tests. There is no doubt that any evaluation...