Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Measurement of Helium-3/Helium-4 Ratios in Soil Gas at the 618-11 Burial Ground

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/789917· OSTI ID:789917
Seventy soil gas-sampling points were installed around the perimeter of the 618-11 Burial Ground, approximately 400 feet downgradient of well 699-13-3A, and in four transects downgradient of the burial ground to a maximum distance of 3,100 feet. Soil gas samples were collected and analyzed for helium-3/helium-4 ratios from these 70 points. Helium-3/helium-4 ratios determined from the soil gas sampling points showed significant enrichments, relative to ambient air helium-3 concentrations. The highest concentrations were located along the northern perimeter of the burial ground. Helium-3/helium-4 ratios (normalized to the abundances in ambient air) ranged from 1.0 to 62 around the burial ground. The helium-3/helium-4 ratios from the 4 transect downgradient of the burial ground ranged from 0.988 to 1.68. The helium-3/helium-4 ratios from around the burial ground suggest there is a vadose zone source of tritium along the north side of the burial ground.
Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Lab., Richland, WA (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
US Department of Energy (US)
DOE Contract Number:
AC06-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
789917
Report Number(s):
PNNL-13675; 830403000; 830403000
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Measurement of Helium-3/Helium-4 Ratios in Soil Gas at the 618-11 Burial Ground
Technical Report · Tue Oct 30 23:00:00 EST 2001 · OSTI ID:965713

Helium-3/Helium-4 Ratios in Soil Gas as an Indicator of Tritium Contamination Near the 618-11 Burial Ground, Hanford Site, Washington
Conference · Sat Oct 09 00:00:00 EDT 2004 · OSTI ID:989461

CHARACTERIZING TRITIUM WASTE USING HELIUM RATIOS
Conference · Wed Feb 26 23:00:00 EST 2003 · OSTI ID:825929