Use of U-isotopes in exploring groundwater flow and inter-aquifer leakage in the south-western margin of the Great Artesian Basin and Arckaringa Basin, central Australia

Priestley, Stacey C.; Payne, Timothy E.; Harrison, Jennifer; Post, Vincent; Shand, Paul; Love, Andrew J.; Wohling, Daniel

doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2018.10.002

Cited by 19 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Disequilibrium occurs when 234 U enters waters preferentially due to processes linked to the energetic alphadecay of parent 238 U, such as the ejection of 234 U into pore space during alpha-recoil or accelerated diffusion via alpha-recoil tracks (Rosholt et al, 1963;Cherdyntsev, 1971;Kigoshi, 1971;Osmond and Cowart, 1976;Osmond and Ivanovich, 1992;Stirling et al, 2007). The degree of disequilibrium is a function of numerous hydrogeologic parameters, including but not limited to, groundwater source, recharge amount and frequency, water-rock interactions, and flow rate (e.g., Osmond and Cowart, 1976;Andrews and Kay, 1982;Ivanovich et al, 1991;Kronfeld et al, 1994;Toulhoat et al, 1996;Johannesson et al, 1997;Roback et al, 2001;Paces et al, 2002;Neymark et al, 2005;Maher et al, 2006;Bushman et al, 2010;Paces et al, 2013;Paces and Wurster, 2014;Priestley et al, 2018). Thus, studying changes in AMGFS groundwater 234 U-238 U disequilibrium over long timescales provides valuable insight into the long-term hydro logical variability of this region.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paleohydrology of southwest Nevada (USA) based on groundwater 234U/238U over the past 475 k.y.

et al. 2019

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Subaqueous calcite deposited on the walls of Devils Hole 2 cave (Nevada, USA) represents a unique archive for geochemical variations within the regional aquifer. Here, we present a 475,000-year record of initial 234U/238U activity ratios in delta notation (δ234U0). Results show a range in values from 1851–1616‰. Variations in δ234U0 coincide with interglacial-glacial cycles over the past 475,000 years. Maximum δ234U0 values correspond to the last five glacial intervals, during which southwest Nevada experienced cool, pluvial conditions. Minimum δ234U0 values correspond to interglacial intervals, during which this region experienced warm, arid conditions. We propose that an elevated water table during glacial periods inundated previously dry bedrock and basin sediments, thereby leaching excess 234U accumulated in these materials. We interpret Devils Hole 2 cave δ234U0 as a proxy for water-rock interactions in this regional aquifer, which is ultimately tied to the surface moisture conditions at recharge zones. The mechanism proposed here serves as a testable hypothesis and possible analogue for future subaqueous speleothem studies in similar hydrogeologic settings. Due to its unprecedented duration, the Devils Hole 2 cave δ234U0 record provides the first paleo-moisture record in southwest Nevada for marine isotope stages 10–12. In addition, high-precision δ234U measurements of modern groundwaters sampled from Devils Hole 2 cave are presented.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paleohydrology of southwest Nevada (USA) based on groundwater 234U/238U over the past 475 k.y.

et al. 2019

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“…In nature, the U radioisotopes can be found in varying ratios depending on the origin of U and the causes associated with its variation in the environment [4,5]. The "original" 1 3…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural uranium isotopes and 226Ra in surface and groundwater from a basin of a semiarid region in Brazil

Rojas

Júnior

Corcho-Alvarado

et al. 2020

J Radioanal Nucl Chem

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“…Thus, AR helps to understand the hydrological and geochemical processes in which can be groundwater markers [37,38]. Therefore, low concentrations of 238 U and higher RA values can suggest a deeper source of water in this aquifer [39], as well as a possible water mix with groundwater from thermal origin [11].…”

Section: Radiochemistry Characterizationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrochemistry and Uranium Concentration in Brackish Groundwater from an Arid Zone, Chihuahua, Mexico

Rentería-Villalobos

Mendieta-Mendoza

Montero-Cabrera

et al. 2021

J. Nucl. Phy. Mat. Sci. Rad. A.

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In arid zones, the principal water supply is from groundwater, which can present high concentration of salts, heavy metals, and radioactive elements. The aim of the study was to determine isotopic uranium concentration in groundwater samples with high concentration of salts and its association with other chemical species. Samples were taken from wells with high salt content. The 238,234U radioisotope concentrations were determined by liquid scintillation and alpha-particle spectrometry. In addition, the physical-chemical parameters were recorded in situ; whereas the dissolved ions and elemental composition were measured by UV-Vis and X-ray fluorescence spectrophotometry, respectively. To obtain isotopic uranium concentrations, three radiochemistry procedures were carried out. An ANOVA test was performed to compare the results from procedures, as well as an analysis of Pearson correlation was used between parameters to obtain their associations. Statistically, the U isotopic concentrations did not show differences (p-value 0.82) between procedures. 238U and 234U showed mean concentrations of 6.7 mBq mL-1 and 16.6 mBq mL-1, respectively, with an Activity Ratioby up 7.2. The groundwater under study showed high concentration of TDS, calcium, sulphate, chloride, nitrate, and nitrite. Isotopic U concentrations tend to increase with NO3>Zn>Cl>Br>SO4>Cu>T>SDT>P; meanwhile their contents decrease with T>Cl->NO2>Fe. These findings help us to understand the uranium behavior in groundwater with high salt contents as well as the influence of agricultural supplies on chemical species presents in groundwater.

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Use of U-isotopes in exploring groundwater flow and inter-aquifer leakage in the south-western margin of the Great Artesian Basin and Arckaringa Basin, central Australia

Cited by 19 publications

References 44 publications

Paleohydrology of southwest Nevada (USA) based on groundwater 234U/238U over the past 475 k.y.

Paleohydrology of southwest Nevada (USA) based on groundwater 234U/238U over the past 475 k.y.

Natural uranium isotopes and 226Ra in surface and groundwater from a basin of a semiarid region in Brazil

Hydrochemistry and Uranium Concentration in Brackish Groundwater from an Arid Zone, Chihuahua, Mexico

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