scholarly journals Vertical hydrochemical profiles in the unsaturated zone of louga (senegal) aquifer controlled by geochemical processes

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
F Serigne ◽  
C.F Seynabou
1995 ◽  
Vol 412 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Woldegabriel ◽  
S. Levy

AbstractZeolite-rich Miocene tuffs are an important part of the principal hydrochemical barrier to water-borne radionuclide transport from a potential high-level nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. The timing of zeolitization is an issue that relates to paleohydrology, permeability, zeolite stability, and unsaturated-zone geochemical processes. Exploratory K/Ar dating of clinoptilolite, the most abundant and widespread zeolite, shows a striking and consistent pattern of increasing apparent ages (2–13 Ma) with depth. Only the isotopic ages from the saturated zone are compatible with geologic evidence suggesting an age >10 Ma for most of the zeolites.Factors that may be responsible for the young apparent ages in the unsaturated zone were investigated. Cation exchange with recharge water and Ar diffusion under unsaturated conditions (processes that may be characteristic of the unsaturated zone) were evaluated experimentally for their effects on K/Ar systematics. Cation exchanging a natural clinoptilolite with Ca-, Cs-, K-, and Na-chloride solutions showed minimal effects on radiogenic Ar content. However, clinoptilolite heated at 2007deg;C for 16 hours in air lost a significant amount of its radiogenic Ar compared with minimal losses from clinoptilolite heated in water at 100°C for over 5 months. The preliminary results indicate that Ar loss from incompletely hydrated clinoptilolite may be a major factor contributing to the young apparent ages of clinoptilolite in the unsaturated zone at Yucca Mountain.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-26
Author(s):  
Joanna Czekaj ◽  
Kamil Trepka

Abstract Goczałkowice reservoir is one of the main source of drinking water for Upper Silesia Region. In reference to Water Frame Directive matter since 2010 the strategic research project: „Integrated system supporting management and protection of dammed reservoir (ZiZoZap)”, which is being conducted on Goczałkowice reservoir, has been pursued. In the framework of this project complex groundwater monitoring is carried on. One aspect is vadose zone research, conducted to obtain information about changes in chemical composition of infiltrating water and mass transport within this zone. Based on historical data and the structural model of direct catchment of Goczałkowice reservoir location of the vadose zone research site was selected. At the end of November 2012 specially designed lysimeter was installed with 10 MacroRhizon samplers at each lithological variation in unsaturated zone. This lysimeter, together with nested observation wells, located in the direct proximity, create the vadose zone research site which main aim is specifying the amount of nitrate transport in the vertical profile.


2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Terziotti ◽  
Jo Leslie Eimers

Author(s):  
Larry J. Slack ◽  
Robert E. Lemire ◽  
June E. Mirecki

1993 ◽  
Vol 27 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 173-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Zilberbrand

In a thick unsaturated zone, when quick deep penetration of rain and irrigation water is absent, at the depths below 3-5 m there exists a zone of downwards quasi-steady water flow. Darcy's water velocity in this zone remains constant with depth and equal to the groundwater recharge rate; unit hydraulic head gradient occurs above the capillary fringe. Therefore, contaminant travel rate is equal to the ratio of hydraulic conductivity (K) and effective volumetric water content (θef). Field tracer experiments and laboratory K and θef determinations were carried out for several representative irrigated lots in the South Ukraine. The dependence of θef on capillary tension was studied for the first time. For loess loam with a capillary tension decreasing from 46 kPa to 0, θef nonlinearly increases from 12% to 27-28%. The effective water content portion (β1) of the total water content increases nonlinearly from 0.38 to 0.65-0.7. The β1 values were estimated for different unsaturated sedimentary rocks. For a capillary tension of about 5 kPa β1 values were: 0.88-0.99 for sands, about 0.65 for loess loam and chestnut soil, about 0.6 for sandy loam, about 0.32 for limestone and about 0.07 for clay. Calculated chloride travel rates in loess loams under irrigated soils fit the values of 0.001-0.003 m/day, determined by the results of field tracer experiments.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document