| In Ekker series | |
| Map Type: | Algeria |
| Country: |  France,  Algeria |
| Test Site: | In Ekker, French Algeria, later independent Algeria |
| Coordinates: | 24.0569°N 5.0517°W |
| 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) |
| Previous Series: | Reggane series |
| Next Series: | 1966–70 series |
In Ekker was a series of 13 underground nuclear tests and five complementary subcritical atmospheric experiments by France between November 1961 and February 1966.[1] The bombs were detonated at the Oasis Military Experiments Centre (Centre d'expérimentation militaire des oasis) also named CEMO 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. At the beginning of the test series, the area was controlled by France as part of French Algeria, which was in the midst of its war of independence. While Algeria won its independence in 1962, the tests were controversially allowed to continue until 1966 as part of the peace treaty.[2]
The series saw the explosion of the first AN-11/21 bombs and was followed by the 1966–1970 series. The tests remain controversial for their continued impact on the region.[2]
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.
| Codename | Date time (UTC) | Location | Elevation | Altitude | Delivery | Purpose | Device | Yield | Fallout | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agate | 1961-11-07 – 11:29:59.9 | Shaft E1 North – CEMO Tan Afella, In Ekker, French Algeria 24.0569°N 5.0517°W | 1,400 m | 0 m | Tunnel |
| 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 24.0631°N 5.0417°W | 1,580 m | 0 m | Tunnel |
| S2 | >30.0 kt | After few minutes: 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 24.0414°N 5.0525°W | 1,540 m | 0 m | 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 24.0433°N 5.0567°W | 1,220 m | 0 m | Tunnel |
| P1 | 0.85 kt | After 20 minutes: 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 24.0347°N 5.0367°W | 1,510 m | 0 m | Tunnel | 68.0 kt | After 1 hour: 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 24.0536°N 5.0519°W | 1,380 m | 0 m | 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 23.9325°N 4.7406°W | 940 m | 0 m | Surface |
| AN-11 | N/A | ||
| Topaze | 1964-06-15 – 13:40:00.4 | Shaft E6-1 – CEMO Tan Afella, In Ekker, French Algeria 24.0664°N 5.0342°W | 1,410 m | 0 m | Tunnel |
| 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 24.0417°N 5.0414°W | 1,760 m | 0 m | Tunnel |
| H2 | 5 kt | None | |
| Pollen Rose | 1964-12-31 – 06:28:??.? | Shooting range – CEMO Tan Ataram, In Ekker, French Algeria 23.9325°N 4.7406°W | 940 m | +1 m | Tower |
| 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 24.0586°N 5.0311°W | 1,830 m | 0 m | 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 24.055°N 5.0506°W | 1,460 m | 0 m | Tunnel |
| A2 | 0.6 kt | After 2 hours: 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 24.0647°N 5.0339°W | 1,500 m | 0 m | Tunnel |
| 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 23.9325°N 4.7406°W | 940 m | +15 m | Tower |
| 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 24.0436°N 5.0467°W | 1,600 m | 0 m | Tunnel |
| 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 23.9325°N 4.7406°W | 940 m | +15 m | Tower |
| 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 24.0447°N 5.0411°W | 1,760 m | 0 m | Tunnel |
| 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 23.9325°N 4.7406°W | 940 m | +1 m | Tower |
| AN-21 | N/A | Contaminated area of 2.750 km2 | |
| References : [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] | ||||||||||