ISSN:
1745-6584
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Energy, Environment Protection, Nuclear Power Engineering
,
Geosciences
Notes:
Ground water from wells in the Cambrian-Ordovician sandstone aquifer of eastern Wisconsin often contains elevated concentrations of dissolved solids, chloride, and sulfate and locally approaches or exceeds the current drinking-water standard for combined radium activity. Samples were collected from wells located along an approximate flow line in order to gain an improved understanding of the chemical evolution of ground water in this system. The concentrations of chloride, sulfate, and sodium increase where the aquifer is confined by the Maquoketa Shale, and the highest combined radium activity is also found in this area. Charge balance calculations and geochemical modeling indicate that dissolution of trace evaporite minerals and cation exchange are important mechanisms controlling major ion distribution. Isotopic equilibrium calculations and analysis of well cuttings from one well with alpha-sensitive film indicate that the dissolved radionuclide activities are consistent with a uranium source occurring in shaly intervals of the sandstone aquifer at maximum local concentrations of 5 ppm.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6584.1991.tb00525.x
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