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Tinderbox
Huron King test chamber.jpg
Information
Country United States
Period 1979–1980
Number of tests 14
Test type underground shaft
Max. yield 140 kilotonnes of TNT (590 TJ)
434-SAN-A800302
Diagram of Huron King

Operation Tinderbox was a series of 14 nuclear tests conducted by the United States in 1979–1980 at the Nevada Test Site. These tests followed the Operation Quicksilver series and preceded the Operation Guardian series.

List of the nuclear tests

United States' Tinderbox series tests and detonations
Name Date time (UT) Local time zone Location Elevation + height Delivery
Purpose
Device Yield Fallout References Notes
Backgammon November 29, 1979 15:00:00.096 PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U3jh 36°59′38″N 116°01′29″W / 36.99395°N 116.02484°W / 36.99395; -116.02484 (Backgammon) 1,175 m (3,855 ft) – 228.72 m (750.4 ft) underground shaft,
weapons development
800 t
Azul December 14, 1979 18:00:00.09 PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U2em 37°08′14″N 116°03′50″W / 37.13732°N 116.06394°W / 37.13732; -116.06394 (Azul) 1,275 m (4,183 ft) – 205 m (673 ft) underground shaft,
weapons development
less than 20 kt Destroyed the Anvil/Peninsula device that was damaged during placement.
Tarko February 28, 1980 15:00:00.093 PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U2fd 37°07′36″N 116°05′22″W / 37.12655°N 116.08946°W / 37.12655; -116.08946 (Tarko) 1,280 m (4,200 ft) – 369 m (1,211 ft) underground shaft,
weapons development
5 kt Venting detected, 50 Ci (1,800 GBq)
Norbo March 8, 1980 15:35:00.09 PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U8c 37°10′48″N 116°05′02″W / 37.17989°N 116.08399°W / 37.17989; -116.08399 (Norbo) 1,349 m (4,426 ft) – 271 m (889 ft) underground shaft,
weapons development
1 kt I-131 venting detected, 0
Liptauer April 3, 1980 14:00:00.089 PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U2eh 37°08′59″N 116°04′59″W / 37.14983°N 116.08313°W / 37.14983; -116.08313 (Liptauer) 1,304 m (4,278 ft) – 417 m (1,368 ft) underground shaft,
weapons development
20 kt
Pyramid April 16, 1980 20:00:00.089 PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U7be 37°06′04″N 116°01′53″W / 37.10107°N 116.0314°W / 37.10107; -116.0314 (Pyramid) 1,266 m (4,154 ft) – 579.1 m (1,900 ft) underground shaft,
weapons development
89 kt
Canfield May 2, 1980 18:46:30.092 PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U3kx 37°03′22″N 116°01′11″W / 37.05598°N 116.0197°W / 37.05598; -116.0197 (Canfield) 1,211 m (3,973 ft) – 350.5 m (1,150 ft) underground shaft,
weapons development
6 kt
Flora May 22, 1980 13:00:00.089 PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U3lg 37°00′11″N 116°01′56″W / 37.00304°N 116.03214°W / 37.00304; -116.03214 (Flora) 1,179 m (3,868 ft) – 335.6 m (1,101 ft) underground shaft,
weapons development
less than 20 kt Venting detected, 1 kCi (37 TBq)
Kash June 12, 1980 17:15:00.09 PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U20af 37°16′54″N 116°27′17″W / 37.2816°N 116.45474°W / 37.2816; -116.45474 (Kash) 1,911 m (6,270 ft) – 645 m (2,116 ft) underground shaft,
weapons development
140 kt Venting detected
Huron King June 24, 1980 15:10:00.07 PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U3ky 37°01′24″N 116°02′06″W / 37.02328°N 116.03491°W / 37.02328; -116.03491 (Huron King) 1,187 m (3,894 ft) – 320.04 m (1,050.0 ft) underground shaft,
weapon effect
6 kt Radiation and EMP effects shot through a mockup DSCS satellite on the surface, which was then towed off the collapsing cap. Picture of the test chamber. It is still on the NE lip of the test's crater.
Tafi July 25, 1980 19:05:00.082 PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U20ae 37°15′23″N 116°28′42″W / 37.25627°N 116.47829°W / 37.25627; -116.47829 (Tafi) 1,859 m (6,099 ft) – 680 m (2,230 ft) underground shaft,
weapons development
140 kt Venting detected
Verdello July 31, 1980 18:19:00.092 PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U3ku 37°00′47″N 116°01′25″W / 37.013°N 116.02361°W / 37.013; -116.02361 (Verdello) 1,183 m (3,881 ft) – 365.76 m (1,200.0 ft) underground shaft,
weapons development
3.5 kt Venting detected, 45 Ci (1,700 GBq)
Bonarda September 25, 1980 14:45:00.094 PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U3gv 37°03′22″N 116°02′56″W / 37.05609°N 116.0489°W / 37.05609; -116.0489 (Bonarda) 1,209 m (3,967 ft) – 381 m (1,250 ft) underground shaft,
weapons development
20 kt
Riola September 25, 1980 15:26:30.084 PST (–8 hrs)
NTS Area U2eq 37°07′01″N 116°03′57″W / 37.11684°N 116.0659°W / 37.11684; -116.0659 (Riola) 1,254 m (4,114 ft) – 424 m (1,391 ft) underground shaft,
weapons development
1.1 kt Venting detected off site, 2.2 kCi (81 TBq)
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