Isotopic data of pore water extracted from unsaturated-zone cores at Yucca Mountain, Nevada
Isotopic compositions of unsaturated-zone (UZ) ground water ({delta}{sup 18}O, {delta}D, {delta}{sup 13}C and {sup 14}C) at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, the site of a potential permanent national nuclear waste repository, can be used to infer the origins of water, residence times of the water, water flux, climatic and evaporative history of water, flow paths and velocities. These data can also be used as indicators of transport properties or water-rock interaction. The lack of long-term direct measurements of infiltration requires proxy indicators of water movement through the unsaturated zone to extend the record into the past. This report will discuss {delta}D and {delta}{sup 18}O data obtained from pore water, along with the {delta}{sup 13}C and {sup 14}C data of gas and water obtained from four boreholes dry-drilled through all UZ lithologic units to infer the existence of nonvertical flowpaths through the mountain and residence times of pore water.
- Research Organization:
- Geological Survey, Lakewood, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Geological Survey, Reston, VA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AI08-92NV10874
- OSTI ID:
- 671925
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-971241--2; ON: DE98005649
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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