Repository site definition in basalt: Pasco Basin, Washington

Technical Report · Mon Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5292161· OSTI ID:5292161

Guzowski, R. V.; Nimick, F. B.; Muller, A. B.

Discussion of the regional setting, geology, hydrology, and geochemistry of the Pasco Basin are included in this report. Pasco basin is a structural and topographic basin of approximately 2000 mi/sup 2/ (5180 km/sup 2/) located within the Yakima Fold Belt Subprovince of the Columbia Plateau. The stratigraphic sequence within the basin consists of an undetermined thickness of lower Miocene and younger flood basalts with interbedded and overlying sedimentary units. This sequence rests upon a basement of probably diverse rock types that may range in age from precambrian through early Tertiary. Although a large amount of information is available on the hydrology of the unconfined aquifer system, ground-water flow within the basin is, in general, poorly understood. Recharge areas for the Mabton interbed and the Saddle Mountains Formation are the highlands surrounding the basin with the flow for these units toward Gable Butte - Gable Mountain and Lake Wallula. Gable Butte - Gable Mountain probably is a ground-water sink, although the vertical flow direction in this zone is uncertain. The amount of upward vertical leakage from the Saddle Mountains Formation into the overlying sediments or to the Columbia River is unknown. Units underlying the Mabton interbed may have a flow scheme similar to those higher units or a flow scheme dominated by interbasin flow. Upward vertical leakage either throughout the basin, dominantly to the Columbia River, or dominantly to Lake Wallula has been proposed for the discharge of the lower units. None of these proposals is verified. The lateral and vertical distribution of major and minor ions in solution, Eh and pH, and ion exchange between basalt and ground-water are not well defined for the basin. Changes in the redox potential from the level of the subsurface facility to the higher stratigraphic levels along with the numerous other factors influencing K/sub d/, result in a poor understanding of the retardation process.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA); Tech. Reps., Inc., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 5292161
• Report Number(s): NUREG/CR-2352; SAND-81-2088; ON: DE82013415
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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BASALT
CHEMISTRY
COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN
DIMENSIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EQUILIBRIUM
FLOW RATE
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
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IGNEOUS ROCKS
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MANAGEMENT
MASS TRANSFER
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
RECHARGE
ROCK-FLUID INTERACTIONS
ROCKS
THICKNESS
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
VOLCANIC ROCKS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WATER