Chemistry of Rustler fluids. [Rustler formation]
Water chemistry determinations were performed by the US Geological Survey on water samples collected from the three fluid-bearing zones of the Rustler Formation from 20 testholes at and adjacent to the WIPP from 1976 to 1980. Analysis of the data demonstration that the three fluid-bearing zones are chemically separate from one another at the WIPP site, but progressively merge towards the west into Nash Draw. The fluids present at the Rustler-Salado contact approach saturation with respect to sodium chloride. Magnesium replaces sodium as the prevalent cation east of the WIPP site: this boundary may represent the approximate limit of salt dissolution in the Rustler Formation. Three zones (areally) of differing predominant chemical constituents are present in the Culebra Dolomite. Groundwater flow paths cross these zones, changing the Culebra water from a sodium choride brine to a moderately saline calcium sulfate water. The Culebra waters are undersaturated with respect to halite and have the capacity of dissolving more halite from the Rustler or the Salado formations. The major ions present in the fluids in the Magenta Dolomite are predominantly sodium and chloride. A few wells have sulfate rather than chloride as the predominant anion.
- Research Organization:
- New Mexico Health and Environment Dept., Santa Fe (USA). Environmental Evaluation Group
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-78AL10752
- OSTI ID:
- 5422751
- Report Number(s):
- EEG-31; ON: DE85016424
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Results of hydrologic tests and water-chemistry analyses, wells H-6A, H-6B, and H-6C, at the proposed Waste Isolation Pilot Plant site, southeastern New Mexico. Water resources investigations (final)
Results of hydrologic tests and water-chemistry analyses, wells H-6A, H-6B, and H-6C, at the proposed waste isolation pilot plant site, southeastern New Mexico
Related Subjects
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
520500 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
58 GEOSCIENCES
580400 -- Geochemistry-- (-1989)
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALPHA-BEARING WASTES
BRINES
CALCIUM CARBONATES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATE MINERALS
CARBONATES
CHEMISTRY
DOLOMITE
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FEDERAL REGION VI
FUNCTIONAL MODELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MAGNESIUM CARBONATES
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
MINERALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NEW MEXICO
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PILOT PLANTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE FACILITIES
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SALT DEPOSITS
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA
WASTES
WATER
WATER CHEMISTRY
WATER QUALITY
WIPP