Combined radiogenic (87Sr/86Sr, 234U/238U) and stable (δ88Sr) isotope systematics as tracers of anthropogenic groundwater contamination within the Williston BasinUSA

Neymark, Leonid A.; Premo, Wayne R.; Emsbo, Poul

doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2018.06.006

Cited by 12 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…Thus, Sr- and U-isotope measurements have been used together and effectively applied to identify multiple sources and mixing relationships among end members in waters from a variety of settings (Drexler et al, 2014; Paces and Wurster, 2014; Neymark et al, 2018; Miller et al, 2021; Garcia et al, 2021). In arid settings, Sr and U isotopes have the advantage of retaining their distinct signatures when exposed to evaporation, transpiration, and other near-surface processes that are especially significant for other chemical tracers (Drexler et al, 2014; Paces and Wurster, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate-driven mid- to late Holocene hydrologic evolution of arid wetlands documented by strontium, uranium, and oxygen isotopes from Lower Pahranagat Lake, southern Nevada, USA

Theissen

Paces²

2023

Quat. res.

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Lacustrine carbonates in a 12.4-m-long core from Lower Pahranagat Lake (LPAH), southern Nevada, indicate that radiogenic isotopes of Sr and U (87Sr/86Sr and 234U/238U) preserve evidence of past variations in water sources and evolving hydrologic conditions. Sr and U isotope compositions in LPAH carbonates fall within the range defined by the three primary groundwater sources in Pahranagat Valley and reflect variable mixtures of those sources since the mid-Holocene. Compositions in the oldest sample (5.78 ka) closely match modern compositions of modern discharge from nearby springs, indicating that LPAH water was derived almost exclusively from the local volcanic aquifer. By ca. 5.3–5.2 ka, LPAH water compositions shifted sharply towards isotopic compositions observed in groundwater from the regional carbonate aquifer, indicating a marked increase in surface flow from high-volume springs discharging from the carbonate aquifer to the north. Sediments deposited between 3.08–1.06 ka indicate reduced contributions from the regional aquifer. A comparison of uranium- and oxygen-isotope values in LPAH carbonates suggests that wetter climate conditions favor increased supply from deeper, regional carbonate aquifers compared to drier conditions when contributions from shallower, local volcanic aquifers were more important.

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