Helium 4 and radon 222 concentrations in groundwater and soil as indicators of zones of fracture concentration in unexposed rock

Journal Article · Sun Jan 10 00:00:00 EST 1988 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JB093iB01p00355· OSTI ID:5426230

Banwell, G M; Parizek, R R

The presence of zones of fracture concentration in unexposed rock may be partially assessed by measuring the concentrations of /sup 4/He and /sup 222/Rn in groundwater and soil gas. Helium 4 in groundwater and soil gas and /sup 222/Rn in groundwater were measured in the vicinity of two intersecting linements in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. The limeaments are thought to mark deep fracture systems which provide conduits for the migration of /sup 4/He and /sup 222/Rn. High groundwater /sup 4/He concentrations revealed the presence of the two lineaments. Low groundwater /sup 222/Rn activities are found near the lineaments and qualitatively support a numerical model which relates low /sup 222/Rn activity to high fracture transmissivity. Radon 222 activity correlates most strongly with the presence of H/sub 2/S in groundwater, implying that geochemical controls or groundwater circulation patterns strongly influence radon concentration. Soil gas concentrations of /sup 4/He barely exceeded background levels and did not reliably indicate the lineament zones. The data show that groundwater /sup 4/He concentrations may be used to identify fracture zones in unexposed bedrock. copyright American Geophysical Union 1988

• Research Organization: GAI Consultants, Incorporated, Monroeville, Pennsylvania
• OSTI ID: 5426230
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Vol. 93:B1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
GROUND WATER
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
HELIUM 4
SOIL CHEMISTRY
PENNSYLVANIA
WATER CHEMISTRY
RADON 222
SOILS
GEOCHEMICAL SURVEYS
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
ISOTOPE RATIO
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
RADIONUCLIDE MIGRATION
ROCK MECHANICS
WATER POLLUTION
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FEDERAL REGION III
HEAVY NUCLEI
HELIUM ISOTOPES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MASS TRANSFER
MECHANICS
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEI
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
RADIOISOTOPES
RADON ISOTOPES
STABLE ISOTOPES
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURVEYS
USA
WATER
580300* - Mineralogy
Petrology
& Rock Mechanics- (-1989)
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)