Geology and hydrology of the 300 Area and vicinity, Hanford Site, south-central Washington
- Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA (United States)
- Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States)
The following report summarizes the findings of a joint Washington State University (WSU) and Colorado School of Mines (CSM) research team that investigated the geology and hydrogeology of the 300 Area during FY87--89. The primary goal of this research was to evaluate existing data and identify new and innovative techniques and/or methods necessary to characterize the 300 Area geology and hydrogeology. Site characterization the 300 Area demands the close integration of geologic and hydrogeologic research to achieve the most meaningful results. Geologic aspects of the research focused on the identification and analysis of both small- (i.e., sedimentary-textural characteristics) and large-scale (i.e., lithofacies and architectural elements) aquifer heterogeneities and on the derivation of fundamental compositional (i.e., mineralogy and geochemistry) data to assist in identification of marker beds. Hydrogeologic aspects of the research focused on identification and refinement of hydraulically significant, three-dimensional aquifer units termed hydrofacies and on preliminary inverse modeling of ground water flow in the 300 Area. Hydrofacies are fundamental units that will aid in site characterization, development of monitoring programs, and design of remedial action. Inverse modeling is used to improve estimates of the values of hydraulic parameters associated with each hydrofacies. The WSU/CSM research team identified two major shortcomings of the geologic and hydrogeologic data base for the 300 Area. First the quality of geologic data from 300 Area drilling is far below that necessary to characterize either the geology or hydrogeology of the suprabasalt strata. Second, the limited number of field-scale aquifer tests and the veritable lack of hydraulic testing of discrete aquifer intervals greatly limit attempts to accurately identify basic hydraulic parameters such as hydraulic conductivity and/or specific yield.
- Research Organization:
- Westinghouse Hanford Co., Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-87RL10930
- OSTI ID:
- 10114842
- Report Number(s):
- WHC-EP-0500; ON: DE92006495
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Oct 1991
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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58 GEOSCIENCES
HANFORD RESERVATION
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
HYDROLOGY
FLOW MODELS
GROUND WATER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
GEOLOGY
WASHINGTON
COLUMBIA RIVER
AQUIFERS
GEOCHEMISTRY
MINERALOGY
REMEDIAL ACTION
MONITORING
SAMPLING
COMPILED DATA
MAPPING
LITHOLOGY
540250
540350
580000
SITE RESOURCE AND USE STUDIES
GEOSCIENCES