/sup 222/Rn concentrations in deep formation waters and the geohydrology of the Cajon Pass borehole

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL015i009p01045· OSTI ID:7079025

Hammond, D E; Leslie, B W; Ku, T; Torgersen, T

Measurements of /sup 222/Rn, /sup 226/Ra, and /sup 238/U in formation waters derived from granitic rocks surrounding the Cajon Pass borehole indicate concentrations of about 700, 1, and 0.01 dpm/1, respectively. The radon profile in the borehole indicates that inputs are localized and several fracture zones must contribute significant amounts of inflow. Radon concentrations in fracture fluids indicate a minimum fracture width of 0.3 ..mu..m, and this width may be combined with the measured permeability to show that fracture porosity does not exceed 1.5 x 10/sup -3/. It is likely that the calculated fracture width is too small because incongruent weathering enriches fracture walls in /sup 238/U and /sup 226/Ra relative to the bulk rock. However, radon concentrations are lower than those in formation waters from other crystalline rocks, suggesting that the wall enrichments here are less pronounced and that fractures have experienced relatively limited fluid flow. copyright American Geophysical Union 1988

• Research Organization: Department of Geological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
• OSTI ID: 7079025
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 15:9; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510300* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BOREHOLES
CAVITIES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMISTRY
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FAILURES
FRACTURES
GRANITES
GROUND WATER
HEAVY NUCLEI
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLOGY
IGNEOUS ROCKS
ISOTOPES
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NUCLEI
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERMEABILITY
PLUTONIC ROCKS
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIUM 226
RADIUM ISOTOPES
RADON 222
RADON ISOTOPES
ROCKS
URANIUM 228
URANIUM ISOTOPES
WATER
WATER CHEMISTRY
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES