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Porewater and groundwater geochemistry at the Down Ampney fault research site

Abstract

This work is performed under contract with the Commission of the European Communities in the framework of its research programme on Management and Storage of Radioactive Wastes. The importance of faults in mudrocks as groundwater conduits, and as a control on solute transport, was assessed in a Jurassic mudrock, siltstone and limestone sequence at Down Ampney, Gloucestershire. Samples were taken from a borehole array crossing an east-west trending fault, of approximately 48 m northerly downthrow. Squeezing mudrock samples yielded 18.1 to 34.5% of total porewater, which was analyzed for major/trace elements and stable O/H isotope compositions. Fault-zone porewaters have greatly increased sulphate concentrations relative to those remote from the fault. Porewater cation concentrations are related to pH, which is correlated with sulphate concentrations, probably controlled by sulphide oxidation. Control of cation concentrations is largely by pH-dependent carbonate dissolution and cation exchange reactions. Porewater C1 and Br concentrations increase downwards, but at twice the rate away from the fault as near the fault, suggesting that although meteoric waters penetrate throughout the area, they are preferentially conducted by the fault. Comparisons are made between pore- and groundwater samples from each side of the fault, and from the fault zone. Pore- and groundwater  More>>
Authors:
Metcalfe, R; Ross, C A.M.; Cave, M R; Green, K A; Reeder, S; Entwisle, D C [1] 
  1. British Geological Survey, Keyworth (United Kingdom). Fluid Processes Research Group
Publication Date:
May 01, 1993
Product Type:
Technical Report
Report Number:
EUR-14335
Reference Number:
SCA: 052002; 540250; PA: AIX-24:036307; SN: 93000977158
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 1993
Subject:
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; GROUND WATER; GEOCHEMISTRY; ROCK-FLUID INTERACTIONS; RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL; RESEARCH PROGRAMS; CHEMICAL ANALYSIS; CLAYS; EXPERIMENTAL DATA; GEOLOGIC FAULTS; JURASSIC PERIOD; POROSITY; RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT; UNITED KINGDOM; 052002; 540250; WASTE DISPOSAL AND STORAGE; SITE RESOURCE AND USE STUDIES
OSTI ID:
10144697
Research Organizations:
Commission of the European Communities, Luxembourg (Luxembourg)
Country of Origin:
CEC
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Other: ON: TI93622720; CNN: Contract Fl1W-0085; TRN: XE9300026036307
Availability:
OSTI; NTIS (US Sales Only); INIS
Submitting Site:
INIS
Size:
[57] p.
Announcement Date:
Jul 05, 2005

Citation Formats

Metcalfe, R, Ross, C A.M., Cave, M R, Green, K A, Reeder, S, and Entwisle, D C. Porewater and groundwater geochemistry at the Down Ampney fault research site. CEC: N. p., 1993. Web.
Metcalfe, R, Ross, C A.M., Cave, M R, Green, K A, Reeder, S, & Entwisle, D C. Porewater and groundwater geochemistry at the Down Ampney fault research site. CEC.
Metcalfe, R, Ross, C A.M., Cave, M R, Green, K A, Reeder, S, and Entwisle, D C. 1993. "Porewater and groundwater geochemistry at the Down Ampney fault research site." CEC.
@misc{etde_10144697,
title = {Porewater and groundwater geochemistry at the Down Ampney fault research site}
author = {Metcalfe, R, Ross, C A.M., Cave, M R, Green, K A, Reeder, S, and Entwisle, D C}
abstractNote = {This work is performed under contract with the Commission of the European Communities in the framework of its research programme on Management and Storage of Radioactive Wastes. The importance of faults in mudrocks as groundwater conduits, and as a control on solute transport, was assessed in a Jurassic mudrock, siltstone and limestone sequence at Down Ampney, Gloucestershire. Samples were taken from a borehole array crossing an east-west trending fault, of approximately 48 m northerly downthrow. Squeezing mudrock samples yielded 18.1 to 34.5% of total porewater, which was analyzed for major/trace elements and stable O/H isotope compositions. Fault-zone porewaters have greatly increased sulphate concentrations relative to those remote from the fault. Porewater cation concentrations are related to pH, which is correlated with sulphate concentrations, probably controlled by sulphide oxidation. Control of cation concentrations is largely by pH-dependent carbonate dissolution and cation exchange reactions. Porewater C1 and Br concentrations increase downwards, but at twice the rate away from the fault as near the fault, suggesting that although meteoric waters penetrate throughout the area, they are preferentially conducted by the fault. Comparisons are made between pore- and groundwater samples from each side of the fault, and from the fault zone. Pore- and groundwater compositions are not simply related, except in the case of sulphate which, in the fault zone, is more diluted in groundwaters. 14 refs. 20 figs., 17 tabs.}
place = {CEC}
year = {1993}
month = {May}
}