Uranium disequilibrium investigation of the Las Cruces East Mesa Geothermal Field
The concentration of dissolved uranium in 33 thermal and nonthermal groundwaters was found to vary from less than 1 part per billion to 285 parts per billion. The uranium-234 to uranium-238 alpha activity ratio of the 33 samples varied from 0.8 to 4.6. Young waters in the recharge area of the Jornada del Muerto Basin are characterized by low uranium concentrations and high activity ratios. Uranium concentrations of groundwaters increase down hydraulic gradient. Concentrations and activity ratios of dissolved uranium in Mesilla Valley groundwater exhibit wide variation and appear to be related to both short-term and long-term removal of groundwater from storage. Geothermal waters exhibit low uranium concentrations and activity ratios. The water produced from New Mexico State University geothermal wells appears to be a mixture of deep upwelling geothermal water and shallow Jornada del Muerto Basin water. The low activity ratio of water from an 800 meter geothermal well may be the result of thermally-induced isotopic equilibration. Isotopic equilibration suggests that higher temperatures may be found deeper within the reservoir.
- Research Organization:
- New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces (USA). New Mexico Energy Inst.
- OSTI ID:
- 5914283
- Report Number(s):
- NMERDI-267-2238(3); ON: DE85901213
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
150302* -- Geothermal Exploration & Exploration Technology-- Geochemical Techniques & Surveys
38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
400700 -- Radiochemistry & Nuclear Chemistry
ABUNDANCE
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CHEMISTRY
EAST MESA GEOTHERMAL FIELD
EQUILIBRIUM
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOTHERMAL FIELDS
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
GROUND WATER
HEAVY NUCLEI
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLOGY
ISOTOPES
NUCLEI
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RADIOISOTOPES
RECHARGE
URANIUM 234
URANIUM 238
URANIUM ISOTOPES
WATER
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES