U.S. Department of EnergyOffice of Scientific and Technical Information
Stratabound pathways of preferred groundwater flow: An example from the Copper Ridge Dolomite in East Tennessee
Abstract
The Copper Ridge Dolomite of the Upper Cambrian Knox Group underlies a site at Oak Ridge, Tennessee under consideration by the Department of Energy (DOE) for a below ground waste disposal facility. The Copper Ridge was studied for DOE to understand the influence of lithology on deep groundwater flow. Three facies types are distinguished which comprise laterally continuous, 1 to 4 m thick rock units interpreted to represent upward-shallowing depositional cycles having an apparently significant effect on groundwater flow at depth. Rock core observations indicate one of the recurring facies types is characterized by thin to medium-bedded, fine-grained dolostone with planar cryptalgal laminae and thin shaley partings. Distinctive fracturing in this facies type, that may have resulted from regional structural deformation, it considered to be responsible for weathering at depth and the development of stratabound pathways of preferred groundwater flow. In addition, geophysical data suggest that one occurrence of this weathered facies type coincides with an apparent geochemical interface at depth. Geophysical data also indicate the presence of several fluid invasion horizons, traceable outside the study area, which coincide with the unweathered occurrence of this fine-grained facies type. The subcropping of recurrent zones of preferred groundwater flow at the weathered/unweatheredmore »
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 6206426
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-870767-1
ON: DE87011127
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- Resource Type:
- Conference
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Focus on eastern regional ground water issues, Burlington, VT, USA, 14 Jul 1987; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; GROUND WATER; FLOW MODELS; LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES; UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL; ROCKS; INTERFACES; DRILL CORES; GEOLOGY; HYDROLOGY; STRATIGRAPHY; TENNESSEE; FEDERAL REGION IV; HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS; MANAGEMENT; MATERIALS; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; NORTH AMERICA; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS; RADIOACTIVE WASTES; USA; WASTE DISPOSAL; WASTE MANAGEMENT; WASTES; WATER; 052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage; 510300 - Environment, Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (-1989); 520300 - Environment, Aquatic- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1989)
Citation Formats
Lee, R, and Ketelle, D. Stratabound pathways of preferred groundwater flow: An example from the Copper Ridge Dolomite in East Tennessee. United States: N. p., 1987.
Web.
Lee, R, & Ketelle, D. Stratabound pathways of preferred groundwater flow: An example from the Copper Ridge Dolomite in East Tennessee. United States.
Lee, R, and Ketelle, D. 1987.
"Stratabound pathways of preferred groundwater flow: An example from the Copper Ridge Dolomite in East Tennessee". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/6206426.
@article{osti_6206426,
title = {Stratabound pathways of preferred groundwater flow: An example from the Copper Ridge Dolomite in East Tennessee},
author = {Lee, R and Ketelle, D},
abstractNote = {The Copper Ridge Dolomite of the Upper Cambrian Knox Group underlies a site at Oak Ridge, Tennessee under consideration by the Department of Energy (DOE) for a below ground waste disposal facility. The Copper Ridge was studied for DOE to understand the influence of lithology on deep groundwater flow. Three facies types are distinguished which comprise laterally continuous, 1 to 4 m thick rock units interpreted to represent upward-shallowing depositional cycles having an apparently significant effect on groundwater flow at depth. Rock core observations indicate one of the recurring facies types is characterized by thin to medium-bedded, fine-grained dolostone with planar cryptalgal laminae and thin shaley partings. Distinctive fracturing in this facies type, that may have resulted from regional structural deformation, it considered to be responsible for weathering at depth and the development of stratabound pathways of preferred groundwater flow. In addition, geophysical data suggest that one occurrence of this weathered facies type coincides with an apparent geochemical interface at depth. Geophysical data also indicate the presence of several fluid invasion horizons, traceable outside the study area, which coincide with the unweathered occurrence of this fine-grained facies type. The subcropping of recurrent zones of preferred groundwater flow at the weathered/unweathered interface may define linear traces of enhanced aquifer recharge paralleling geologic strike. Vertical projection of these zones from the weathered/unweathered rock interface to the ground surface may describe areas of enhanced infiltration. Tests to determine the role of stratigraphic controls on groundwater flow are key components of future investigations on West Chestnut Ridge. 14 refs., 13 figs.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6206426},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jul 14 00:00:00 EDT 1987},
month = {Tue Jul 14 00:00:00 EDT 1987}
}