Isotopic evidence of complex ground-water flow at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, USA

Conference · Fri Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:145381

Peterman, Z E; Stuckless, J S ^[1]

---

1. Geological Survey, Denver, CO (United States)

Strontium isotopes (expressed as per mil deviation from mean sea water, {delta}{sup 87}Sr) reflect interaction between ground water and the aquifer of the Yucca Mountain region, {delta}{sup 87}Sr values increase from north to south downgradient in the flow system. The largest {delta}{sup 87}Sr values occur in the Amargosa Desert where ground water probably encounters alluvial basin fill derived from Precambrian rocks in the Funeral Range. Similarly, large {delta}{sup 87}Sr values for ground water in the Paleozoic aquifer at the western end of the Spring Mountains also probably reflect an encounter with Precambrian rocks. In several wells into the volcanic rocks, apparent isotopic disequilibrium between ground water and the producing units suggest that the ground water probably integrates over a substantial part of the saturated section in attaining its strontium isotope signature.

• Research Organization: American Nuclear Society, La Grange Park, IL (United States); American Society of Civil Engineers, New York, NY (United States)
• OSTI ID: 145381
• Report Number(s): CONF-930408--Vol.2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
AQUIFERS
GROUND WATER
HYDRODYNAMICS
ISOTOPE RATIO
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
ROCK-FLUID INTERACTIONS
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
STRONTIUM 87
VOLCANIC ROCKS
YUCCA MOUNTAIN
Yucca Mountain Project