天然核反应堆是指在铀矿层中发现的铀的同位素能够在过去自然发生自持核连锁反应的一种现象。1956年日裔美籍物理学家黑田和夫预言了在某种条件下存在天然核反应堆的可能性。这种现象由法国物理学家弗朗西斯·佩兰（Francis Perrin）于1972年在非洲加蓬的奥克洛发现。发现的天然核反应堆的自然条件与预言非常相似。

奥克洛是目前世界上唯一已知的曾经自然发生自持的核连锁反应的地方，共有16处。从大约20亿年以前开始反应，断断续续反应了几十万年，在此期间平均输出功率为100千瓦。

A natural nuclear fission reactor is a uranium deposit where self-sustaining nuclear chain reactions have occurred. This can be examined by analysis of isotope ratios. The existence of this phenomenon was discovered in 1972 at Oklo in Gabon, Africa, by French physicist Francis Perrin. The conditions under which a natural nuclear reactor could exist had been predicted in 1956 by Paul Kazuo Kuroda. The conditions found were very similar to what was predicted.