Operation Quicksilver (1978)

Quicksilver
Quicksilver
Information
Country	United States
Test site	NTS Area 19, 20, Pahute Mesa; NTS, Areas 1–4, 6–10, Yucca Flat
Period	1978–1979
Number of tests	2634
Test type	underground shaft
Max. yield	140 kilotonnes of TNT (590 TJ)
Test series chronology

Operation Quicksilver was a series of 16 nuclear tests conducted by the United States in 1978–1979 at the Nevada Test Site. These tests followed the Operation Cresset series and preceded the Operation Tinderbox series.

United States' Quicksilver series tests and detonations
Name	Date time (UT)	Local time zone	Location	Elevation + height	Delivery Purpose	Yield	Fallout	Notes
Emmenthal	November 2, 1978 15:25:00.169	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U19t 37°17′16″N 116°17′54″W / 37.28789°N 116.29838°W / 37.28789; -116.29838 (Emmenthal)	2,104 m (6,903 ft) – 576.1 m (1,890 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development	2.5 kt
Concentration	December 1, 1978 17:07:30.073	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U3kn 37°01′47″N 116°01′30″W / 37.02965°N 116.02488°W / 37.02965; -116.02488 (Concentration)	1,189 m (3,901 ft) – 247.59 m (812.3 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development	600 t
Farm	December 16, 1978 15:30:00.158	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U20ab 37°16′24″N 116°24′40″W / 37.27334°N 116.41116°W / 37.27334; -116.41116 (Farm)	1,979 m (6,493 ft) – 689 m (2,260 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development	140 kt	Venting detected
Baccarat	January 24, 1979 18:00:00.1	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U7ax 37°06′19″N 116°00′45″W / 37.10536°N 116.01253°W / 37.10536; -116.01253 (Baccarat)	1,311 m (4,301 ft) – 326.44 m (1,071.0 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development	6 kt
Quinella	February 8, 1979 20:00:00.089	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U4l 37°06′09″N 116°03′21″W / 37.10243°N 116.05571°W / 37.10243; -116.05571 (Quinella)	1,241 m (4,072 ft) – 579.1 m (1,900 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development	89 kt
Kloster	February 15, 1979 18:05:00.165	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U2eo 37°09′07″N 116°04′22″W / 37.15196°N 116.07271°W / 37.15196; -116.07271 (Kloster)	1,297 m (4,255 ft) – 536.4 m (1,760 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development	20 kt	Venting detected
Memory	March 14, 1979 18:30:00.095	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U3kg 37°01′40″N 116°02′26″W / 37.02778°N 116.04062°W / 37.02778; -116.04062 (Memory)	1,190 m (3,900 ft) – 364.85 m (1,197.0 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development	5 kt
Freezeout	May 11, 1979 16:00:00.102	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U3kw 36°59′53″N 116°01′06″W / 36.99818°N 116.01844°W / 36.99818; -116.01844 (Freezeout)	1,177 m (3,862 ft) – 335.3 m (1,100 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development	5 kt
Pepato	June 11, 1979 14:00:00.17	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U20ad 37°17′23″N 116°27′22″W / 37.28963°N 116.45614°W / 37.28963; -116.45614 (Pepato)	1,913 m (6,276 ft) – 681 m (2,234 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development	100 kt	I-131 venting detected, 0
Chess	June 20, 1979 15:00:13.542	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U7at 37°06′27″N 116°00′57″W / 37.10761°N 116.01585°W / 37.10761; -116.01585 (Chess)	1,309 m (4,295 ft) – 335.3 m (1,100 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development	1.5 kt
Fajy	June 28, 1979 14:44:00.167	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U2fc 37°08′35″N 116°05′18″W / 37.14305°N 116.08847°W / 37.14305; -116.08847 (Fajy)	1,303 m (4,275 ft) – 536 m (1,759 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development	22 kt	I-131 venting detected, 0
Burzet	August 3, 1979 15:07:30.164	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U4ai 37°05′02″N 116°04′15″W / 37.0839°N 116.07076°W / 37.0839; -116.07076 (Burzet)	1,235 m (4,052 ft) – 450 m (1,480 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development	20 kt	Venting detected
Offshore	August 8, 1979 15:00:00.112	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U3ks 37°00′53″N 116°00′32″W / 37.0147°N 116.00887°W / 37.0147; -116.00887 (Offshore)	1,182 m (3,878 ft) – 396.54 m (1,301.0 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development	20 kt
Hearts	September 6, 1979 15:00:00.089	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U4n 37°05′17″N 116°03′13″W / 37.08806°N 116.05356°W / 37.08806; -116.05356 (Hearts)	1,232 m (4,042 ft) – 640.02 m (2,099.8 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development	140 kt		Destroyed Cresset/Transom device which didn't detonate.
Pera	September 8, 1979 17:02:00.09	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U10bd 37°09′18″N 116°02′21″W / 37.15495°N 116.03906°W / 37.15495; -116.03906 (Pera)	1,280 m (4,200 ft) – 200 m (660 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development	5 kt
Sheepshead	September 26, 1979 15:00:00.091	PST (–8 hrs)	NTS Area U19aa 37°13′46″N 116°21′53″W / 37.22935°N 116.36482°W / 37.22935; -116.36482 (Sheepshead)	2,033 m (6,670 ft) – 640 m (2,100 ft)	underground shaft, weapons development	140 kt