Natural radioelement solution by circulating ground waters in the Stripa granite

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(89)90300-1· OSTI ID:7079371

Andrews, J N; Ford, D J; Hussain, N; Trivedi, D; Youngman, M J ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Bath (England)

Natural radioelement concentrations in ground waters from the fracture flow regime in the Stripa granite were monitored during the period 1977-1986. Uranium concentrations from depths of 80 m or less and in mine waters from above the hydraulic sink produced by the deepest mining level (410 m), range from 10 to 90 ppb. {sup 234}U/{sup 238}U activity ratios are characteristic of chemical leaching processes at the shallower depths whilst at about 350 m ground waters occur which have an additional component of {sup 234}U by alpha-recoil processes. At greater depths, U concentrations are indicative of the changed redox conditions and are subject to activity ratio enhancement by the alpha-recoil process. Groundwater residence times may be estimated from the rate of such recoil solution of {sup 234}U in zones where chemical leaching of U is not active. The {sup 222}Rn contents of the mine waters are extremely high and can be related to the {sup 222}Rn flux from fracture surfaces and the fracture width. The fracture apertures range from 10 mm for the shallow groundwater zone ({sup 222}Rn contents < 400 Bq kg{sup {minus}1}) to 20 {mu}m for water from the deepest borehole section ({sup 222}Rn content 100 kBq kg{sup {minus}1}). The activity ratios {sup 234}Th/{sup 238}U, {sup 210}Pb/{sup 222}Rn and {sup 210}Po/{sup 222}Rn have been used to estimate residence times for Th, Pb and Po isotopes. Solution of Ra is controlled by chemical rather than alpha-recoil processes. The {sup 226}Ra content of the groundwater increases with salinity and is well correlated with groundwater Ca content. The {sup 228}Ra/{sup 226}Ra activity ratios in the ground waters suggest that water/rock interaction occurs predominantly with the average granitic matrix rather than with highly uraniferous fracture mineralization.

• OSTI ID: 7079371
• Journal Information: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (USA), Journal Name: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta; (USA) Vol. 53:8; ISSN GCACA; ISSN 0016-7037
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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