Stratigraphy and structure of the Rainier and USGS Tunnel areas, Nevada Test Site

Hansen, W.R.; Lemke, Richard W.; Cattermole, John Mark; Gibbons, A.B.

doi:10.3133/pp382a

Cited by 11 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Cooling joints, fractures, and steeply dipping normal faults that trend north-south are typical in the volcanic rocks of Rainier Mesa (Hansen et al, 1963). Here the term fracture is used to encompass fractures, faults, and joints.…”

Section: Rainier Mesa Lithology and Hydraulic Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simple estimation of fastest preferential contaminant travel times in the unsaturated zone: application to Rainier Mesa and Shoshone Mountain, Nevada

Ebel

Nimmo

2010

Preprint

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Simulating contaminant transport in unsaturated zones with sparse hydraulic property information is a difficult, yet common, problem. When contaminant transport may occur via preferential flow, simple modeling approaches can provide predictions of interest, such as the first arrival of contaminant, with minimal site characterization. The conceptual model for unsaturated zone flow at two areas within the Nevada Test Site, Rainier Mesa and Shoshone Mountain, establishes the possibility of preferential flow through lithologies between potential radionuclide sources and the saturated zone. Lithology, saturated or near-saturated conditions in portions of the rock matrix, and relatively high recharge rates may act in concert at Rainier Mesa to promote preferential flow, despite the semi-arid climate. After identifying preferential flow as a possible contaminant transport process at Rainier Mesa and Shoshone Mountain, we apply a simple model to estimate fastest unsaturated travel times for conservatively-transported radionuclides to initially reach the saturated zone. Preferential flow travel times at Rainier Mesa are tens to hundreds of years for non-ponded water sources and one to two months for continuously-ponded water sources. If preferential flow occurs at Shoshone Mountain, the fastest travel times are approximately twice the Rainier Mesa estimates. A siliceous rock unit is present at Shoshone Mountain that may provide a barrier to preferential flow; if so, estimated transport times increase to more than a thousand years. Our analysis of unsaturated transport of radionuclides via preferential flow, using a relatively simple model, suggests that contaminated locations associated with continuously-supplied water sources, such as effluent ponds and water-filled tunnels, may have significantly shorter radionuclide travel times than locations not associated with such sources. The simple approach demonstrated here for estimating travel times can be useful in situations where predictions are needed by managers for the fastest arrival of contaminants, yet budgetary or time constraints preclude more rigorous analysis, and when additional model estimates are needed for comparison (i.e. model abstraction)

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Section: Rainier Mesa Lithology and Hydraulic Propertiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simple estimation of fastest preferential contaminant travel times in the unsaturated zone: application to Rainier Mesa and Shoshone Mountain, Nevada

Ebel

Nimmo

2010

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Selected references are Cattermole and Hansen (1962), Hansen and others (1963), Diment andothers (1958a and1958b), McKeown and Dickey (1961), Dickey and Emerick (1961), , Emerick and Dickey (1962), and Laraway and Houser (1962).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Perched ground water in zeolitized-bedded tuff, Rainier Mesa and vicinity, Nevada test site, Nevada

1965

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Submarine Fallout Tephra from Subaerial Eruptions

Fisher

Schmincke

1984

Pyroclastic Rocks

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Stratigraphy and structure of the Rainier and USGS Tunnel areas, Nevada Test Site

Cited by 11 publications

References 0 publications

Simple estimation of fastest preferential contaminant travel times in the unsaturated zone: application to Rainier Mesa and Shoshone Mountain, Nevada

Simple estimation of fastest preferential contaminant travel times in the unsaturated zone: application to Rainier Mesa and Shoshone Mountain, Nevada

Perched ground water in zeolitized-bedded tuff, Rainier Mesa and vicinity, Nevada test site, Nevada

Submarine Fallout Tephra from Subaerial Eruptions

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