That was what was reported in the 1970's. This article covers new analysis that provides evidence that water was the mediator, and also carried away the reactio

That was what was reported in the 1970's. This article covers new analysis that provides evidence that water was the mediator, and also carried away the reaction products. When they went looking for those reaction products, they found them in nearby compounds that might prove valuable to us in sequestering our radioactive waste.