Groundwater "fast paths" in the Snake Plain aquifer: Radiogenic isotope ratios as natural groundwater tracers

T. M. Johnson; R. C. Roback; T. L. McLing; T. D. Bullen; D. J. DePaolo; C. Doughty; R. J. Hunt; R. W. Smith; C. L. De Wayne; M. T. Murrell

doi:10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<871:GFPITS>2.0.CO;2

Groundwater "fast paths" in the Snake Plain aquifer: Radiogenic isotope ratios as natural groundwater tracers

T. M. Johnson, R. C. Roback, T. L. McLing, T. D. Bullen, D. J. DePaolo, C. Doughty, R. J. Hunt, R. W. Smith, C. L. De Wayne, M. T. Murrell

Earth Science and Environmental Change

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Preferential flow paths are expected in many groundwater systems and must be located because they can greatly affect contaminant transport. The fundamental characteristics of radiogenic isotope ratios in chemically evolving waters make them highly effective as preferential flow path indicators. These ratios tend to be more easily interpreted than solute-concentration data because their response to water-rock interaction is less complex. We demonstrate this approach with groundwater ⁸⁷ Sr/ ⁸⁶ Sr ratios in the Snake River Plain aquifer within and near the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. These data reveal slow-flow zones as lower ⁸⁷ Sr/ ⁸⁶ Sr areas created by prolonged interaction with the host basalts and a relatively fast flowing zone as a high ⁸⁷ Sr/ ⁸⁶ Sr area.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	871-874
Number of pages	4
Journal	Geology
Volume	28
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<871:GFPITS>2.0.CO;2
State	Published - 2000

Keywords

Aqueous solutions
Aquifer properties
Groundwater tracers
Isotope ratios
Snake river plain

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geology

Online availability

10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<871:GFPITS>2.0.CO;2

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title = "Groundwater {"}fast paths{"} in the Snake Plain aquifer: Radiogenic isotope ratios as natural groundwater tracers",

abstract = " Preferential flow paths are expected in many groundwater systems and must be located because they can greatly affect contaminant transport. The fundamental characteristics of radiogenic isotope ratios in chemically evolving waters make them highly effective as preferential flow path indicators. These ratios tend to be more easily interpreted than solute-concentration data because their response to water-rock interaction is less complex. We demonstrate this approach with groundwater 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios in the Snake River Plain aquifer within and near the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. These data reveal slow-flow zones as lower 87 Sr/ 86 Sr areas created by prolonged interaction with the host basalts and a relatively fast flowing zone as a high 87 Sr/ 86 Sr area. ",

keywords = "Aqueous solutions, Aquifer properties, Groundwater tracers, Isotope ratios, Snake river plain",

author = "Johnson, {T. M.} and Roback, {R. C.} and McLing, {T. L.} and Bullen, {T. D.} and DePaolo, {D. J.} and C. Doughty and Hunt, {R. J.} and Smith, {R. W.} and {De Wayne}, {C. L.} and Murrell, {M. T.}",

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language = "English (US)",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Groundwater "fast paths" in the Snake Plain aquifer

T2 - Radiogenic isotope ratios as natural groundwater tracers

AU - Johnson, T. M.

AU - Roback, R. C.

AU - McLing, T. L.

AU - Bullen, T. D.

AU - DePaolo, D. J.

AU - Doughty, C.

AU - Hunt, R. J.

AU - Smith, R. W.

AU - De Wayne, C. L.

AU - Murrell, M. T.

PY - 2000

Y1 - 2000

N2 - Preferential flow paths are expected in many groundwater systems and must be located because they can greatly affect contaminant transport. The fundamental characteristics of radiogenic isotope ratios in chemically evolving waters make them highly effective as preferential flow path indicators. These ratios tend to be more easily interpreted than solute-concentration data because their response to water-rock interaction is less complex. We demonstrate this approach with groundwater 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios in the Snake River Plain aquifer within and near the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. These data reveal slow-flow zones as lower 87 Sr/ 86 Sr areas created by prolonged interaction with the host basalts and a relatively fast flowing zone as a high 87 Sr/ 86 Sr area.

AB - Preferential flow paths are expected in many groundwater systems and must be located because they can greatly affect contaminant transport. The fundamental characteristics of radiogenic isotope ratios in chemically evolving waters make them highly effective as preferential flow path indicators. These ratios tend to be more easily interpreted than solute-concentration data because their response to water-rock interaction is less complex. We demonstrate this approach with groundwater 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios in the Snake River Plain aquifer within and near the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. These data reveal slow-flow zones as lower 87 Sr/ 86 Sr areas created by prolonged interaction with the host basalts and a relatively fast flowing zone as a high 87 Sr/ 86 Sr area.

KW - Aqueous solutions

KW - Aquifer properties

KW - Groundwater tracers

KW - Isotope ratios

KW - Snake river plain

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JO - Geology

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ER -

Groundwater "fast paths" in the Snake Plain aquifer: Radiogenic isotope ratios as natural groundwater tracers

Abstract

Keywords

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