Atmospheric and subsurface sources of stable and radioactive nuclides used for groundwater dating

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Water Resources Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/93WR00543· OSTI ID:5475298

Lehmann, B E ^[1]; Davis, S N ^[2]; Fabryka-Martin, J T ^[3]

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1. Univ. of Bern (Switzerland)
2. Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (United States)
3. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)

Theoretical calculations together with a review of data from Sweden, Switzerland and Canada indicate that given sufficient isolation time and U and Th in the aquifer matrix, deep subsurface production of [sup 3]H, [sup 4]He, [sup 36]Cl, [sup 37]Ar, [sup 39]Ar, [sup 40]Ar, [sup 85]Kr, [sup 129]I, and [sup 222]Rn can overshadow the normal atmospheric component of these nuclides in recharging groundwater. Although direct evidence is lacking, calculations suggest that small but measurable subsurface production of [sup 3]H and [sup 14]C could also take place in aquifers having high U and Th concentrations. Some groundwater which has been recharged during the past 40 years will have [sup 3]H, [sup 3]He, [sup 36]Cl, [sup 85]Kr, and [sup 129]I concentrations which are dominantly anthropogenic. Dating methods with the least complications in interpretation appear to be [sup 3]H-[sup 3]He for postbomb waters and [sup 81]Kr for waters in the range of 5 [times] 10[sup 4] to 1 [times] 10[sup 6]. 103 refs., 3 figs., 4 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 5475298
• Journal Information: Water Resources Research; (United States), Journal Name: Water Resources Research; (United States) Vol. 29:7; ISSN WRERAQ; ISSN 0043-1397
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540230* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ACTINIDES
AGE ESTIMATION
AQUIFERS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE DATING
ISOTOPES
LIFETIME
METALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIOISOTOPES
RECHARGE
THORIUM
URANIUM
WATER