Telkem

“Telkem” - code names of two experimental excavation nuclear explosions conducted in 1968 in the USSR on the territory of the southeastern part of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site . The purpose of the experiments was to refine the methodology for creating artificial channels using underground nuclear explosions to eject soil. The obtained data were used to create a channel in the Taiga pilot project . Nuclear charges were developed at VNIITF (Snezhinsk). "Telkem-2" was a group nuclear explosion. The power of each nuclear charge was 0.24 kt (240 tons tnt ).

• “Telkem-1” took place on October 21, 1968 , a nuclear charge with TNT equivalent of 0.24 kt was buried in well 2308 to a depth of 31 m, as a result of the explosion, a funnel formed with a diameter of 80 m and a depth of 20 m.
• “Telkem-2” was conducted on November 12, 1968, three nuclear charges with TNT equivalent of 0.24 kt each were laid in 3 wells (2305, 2306, 2307) to a depth of 31 m. The wells were linear in line at distances of 40 m apart, as a result of the explosion, an oval-shaped funnel (in the form of a trench ) was formed, 140 m long, 70 m wide and 16 m deep.