A chlorine-36 study of regional groundwater flow and vertical transport in southern Nevada

Chlorine-36 data for groundwater from the Death Valley regional flow system is interpreted in the context of existing conceptual models for regional groundwater flow in southern Nevada. Chlorine-36 end member compositions are defined for both recharge and chemically evolved groundwater components. The geochemical evolution of ³⁶Cl is strongly controlled by water-rock interaction with Paleozoic carbonate rocks that comprise the regional aquifer system, resulting in chemically evolved groundwater that is characteristically low in ³⁶Cl/Cl and high in Cl. Groundwater from alluvial and volcanic aquifers that overlie the regional carbonate aquifer are generally characterized by high ³⁶Cl/Cl and low Cl signatures, and are chemically distinct from water in the regional carbonate aquifer. This difference provides a means of examining vertical transport and groundwater mixing processes. In combination with other geochemical and hydrogeologic data, the end members defined here provide constraints on aquifer residence times and mixing ratios.     

湘南荷花坪锡多金属矿床稀有气体同位素特征及其地质意义

荷花坪锡多金属矿床是南岭中段湘南地区新发现的一个大型矿床,发育有印支期和燕山期2期成岩、成矿作用。文章对不同期矿石中的黄铁矿分别进行了稀有气体同位素研究。测试结果表明,印支期矽卡岩型矿石中的黄铁矿:³He/⁴He=0.15～2.49 Ra,³⁸Ar/³⁶Ar=0.18733～0.18902,⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar=310.45～523.98,²⁰Ne/²²Ne=9.727～9.830,²¹Ne/²²Ne=0.0286～0.0310;燕山期蚀变碎裂岩型矿石中的黄铁矿:³He/⁴He=0.15～4.33 Ra,³⁸Ar/³⁶Ar=0.18750～0.18843,⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar=331.78～602.62,²⁰Ne/²²Ne=9.736～9.858,²¹Ne/²²Ne=0.0286～0.0305,显示区内两期成矿流体均为大气饱和水、地壳流体和地幔流体的混合流体。印支期矽卡岩型矿石中地幔He所占比例为2.34%～41.40%,平均18.16%;燕山期蚀变碎裂岩型矿石中地幔He所占比例为2.34%～72.12%,平均27.41%,燕山期幔源流体的作用强度略高于印支期。湘南地区印支期基性岩浆活动及荷花坪矿床印支期成矿过程中有幔源物质的参与,二者共同指示南岭地区中生代构造体制的转换或岩石圈伸展减薄可能始于印支主期(244～230 Ma)之后的224 Ma左右,即晚三叠世。     

Using groundwater noble gas measurements to confirm paleorecharge hypotheses at Pahute Mesa,Nevada National Security Site,Nevada, USA

Hydrogeology Journal - Pahute Mesa (Nevada, USA) was the site of 85 underground nuclear tests between 1965 and 1992 whose residual radiochemical inventory poses a contaminant threat to local...     

Noble gas tracing of groundwater/coalbed methane interaction in the San Juan Basin, USA

The San Juan Basin natural gas field, located in northwestern New Mexico and southwestern Colorado in the USA, is a case-type coalbed methane system. Groundwater is thought to play a key role in both biogenic methane generation and the CO₂ sequestration potential of coalbed systems. We show here how noble gases can be used to construct a physical model that describes the interaction between the groundwater system and the produced gas. We collected 28 gas samples from producing wells in the artesian overpressured high production region of the basin together with 8 gas samples from the underpressured low production zone as a control. Stable isotope and major species determination clearly characterize the gas in the high production region as dominantly biogenic in origin, and the underpressured low producing region as having a significant admix of thermogenic coal gas. ³He/⁴He ratios increase from 0.0836R_a at the basin margin to 0.318R_a towards the center, indicating a clear but small mantle He signature in all gases. Coherent fractionation of water-derived ²⁰Ne/³⁶Ar and crustal ⁴He/⁴⁰Ar* are explained by a simple Rayleigh fractionation model of open system groundwater degassing. Low ²⁰Ne concentrations compared to the model predicted values are accounted for by dilution of the groundwater-associated gas by desorbed coalbed methane. This Rayleigh fractionation and dilution model together with the gas production history allows us to quantify the amount of water involved in gas production at each well. The quantified water volumes in both underpressured and overpressured zones range from 1.7 × 10³ m³ to 4.2 × 10⁵ m³, with no clear distinction between over- and underpressured production zones. These results conclusively show that the volume of groundwater seen by coal does not play a role in determining the volume of methane produced by secondary biodegradation of these coalbeds. There is no requirement of continuous groundwater flow for renewing the microbes or nutrient components. We furthermore observe strong mass related isotopic fractionation of ²⁰Ne/²²Ne and ³⁸Ar/³⁶Ar isotopic ratios. This can be explained by a noble gas concentration gradient in the groundwater during gas production, which causes diffusive partial re-equilibration of the noble gas isotopes. It is important for the study of other systems in which extensive groundwater degassing may have occurred to recognize that severe isotopic fractionation of air-derived noble gases can occur when such concentration gradients are established during gas production. Excess air-derived Xe and Kr in our samples are shown to be related to the diluting coalbed methane and can only be accounted for if Xe and Kr are preferentially and volumetrically trapped within the coal matrix and released during biodegradation to form CH₄.     

Noble gas and isotope geochemistry in western Canadian Arctic watersheds: tracing groundwater recharge in permafrost terrain

In Canada’s western Arctic, perennial discharge from permafrost watersheds is the surface manifestation of active groundwater flow systems with features including the occurrence of year-round open water and the formation of icings, yet understanding the mechanisms of groundwater recharge and flow in periglacial environments remains enigmatic. Stable isotopes (δ¹⁸O, δD, δ¹³C_DIC), and noble gases have proved useful to study groundwater recharge and flow of groundwater which discharges along rivers in Canada’s western Arctic. In these studies of six catchments, groundwater recharge was determined to be a mix of snowmelt and precipitation. All systems investigated show that groundwater has recharged through organic soils with elevated P_CO2, which suggests that recharge occurs largely during summer when biological activity is high. Noble gas concentrations show that the recharge temperature was between 0 and 5 °C, which when considered in the context of discharge temperatures, suggests that there is no significant imbalance of energy flux into the subsurface. Groundwater circulation times were found to be up to 31 years for non-thermal waters using the ³?H-³He method.     

Noble gas distribution in oceanic basalt glasses

The distribution of noble gases has been investigated in six MORB glass samples using stepwise heating, vacuum crushing and the analysis of grain size fractions. These experiments indicate a strong noble gas partitioning into CO₂-filled vesicles. An inhomogeneous distribution of argon isotopes within individual glasses is observed in several cases and is believed to result from the combined effects of the deep-seated component partitioning into vesicles and the contamination of the residual component dissolved in the glass by atmospheric noble gases. Using a mixing diagram, we are able to discriminate against atmospheric contamination and estimate the Ar partition coefficients. These coefficients are in qualitative agreement with the Henry's law constant for silicate melts.     

Patterns in groundwater chemistry resulting from groundwater flow

 Groundwater flow influences hydrochemical patterns because flow reduces mixing by diffusion, carries the chemical imprints of biological and anthropogenic changes in the recharge area, and leaches the aquifer system. Global patterns are mainly dictated by differences in the flux of meteoric water passing through the subsoil. Within individual hydrosomes (water bodies with a specific origin), the following prograde evolution lines (facies sequence) normally develop in the direction of groundwater flow: from strong to no fluctuations in water quality, from polluted to unpolluted, from acidic to basic, from oxic to anoxic–methanogenic, from no to significant base exchange, and from fresh to brackish. This is demonstrated for fresh coastal-dune groundwater in the Netherlands. In this hydrosome, the leaching of calcium carbonate as much as 15 m and of adsorbed marine cations (Na⁺, K⁺, and Mg²⁺) as much as 2500 m in the flow direction is shown to correspond with about 5000 yr of flushing since the beach barrier with dunes developed. Recharge focus areas in the dunes are evidenced by groundwater displaying a lower prograde quality evolution than the surrounding dune groundwater. Artificially recharged Rhine River water in the dunes provides distinct hydrochemical patterns, which display groundwater flow, mixing, and groundwater ages. Received, May 1998 · Revised, August 1998 · Accepted, October 1998     

Noble gas composition in Ogi and Siena meteorites

The elemental and isotopic composition of noble gases in two chondritic meteorites which belong to documented “falls” is reported. Ogi, which belongs to the group of H-chondrites, fell in Saga, Kyushu (Japan) at 11am on 8 June 1741 and Siena which belongs to the group of LL-chondrites, fell in Tuscany (Italy) at 7pm on 16 June 1794. The recovered mass of Ogi and Siena were 14·2 and 4 kg respectively. Their exposure ages are 13±2 m.y. and 13±3 m.y. respectively.     

Quantifying regional groundwater flow between Continental Intercalaire and Djeffara aquifers in southern Tunisia using isotope methods

Large-scale interaction between the Continental Intercalaire and the Djeffara aquifer systems in the southeast of Tunisia has been investigated with the aid of chemical and isotopic tracers. Two distinct groundwater types have been identified: (1) the Continental Intercalaire groundwater characterized by elevated temperatures (50–61.4°C), low δ¹⁸O (−8.4 to−7.87) and δ²H (−67.2 to−59) values and negligible radiocarbon content, both testifying its great age dating from the late Pleistocene period, and (2) the Djeffara groundwater with distinctly heavier isotopic composition (δ¹⁸O = −8.31 to −5.80, δ²H = −65.9 to −31.9). The Djeffara groundwaters reveal a distinct changes of physico-chemical and isotopic parameters near El Hamma Faults in the northwestern part of the Djeffara basin. These changes could possibly be explained by a vertical leakage from the Continental Intercalaire aquifer through El Hamma Faults. The mixing proportions inferred from stable isotope mass balance prove that the contribution of the Continental Intercalaire to the recharge of Djeffara aquifer is very significant and may reach 100% in the El Hamma region and in the northern part of Gabes. Isotope tracers strongly suggest that recent recharge to the Djeffara aquifer system is very limited. Its current yield, particularly in its central and northern parts can be maintained only thanks to large-scale underground inflow from the Continental Intercalaire aquifer system, which carries late Pleistocene palaeowater. Consequently, current exploitation of groundwater resources of the Djeffara aquifer has non-sustainable character.     

黑河中游盆地南部山区地下水对平原区侧向径流补给量的估算

山区地下水对平原区的侧向径流补给量是一个长期争议且悬而未决的难题,这个量在西北内陆干旱盆地,被估算得或很小或很大。在总结前人研究的基础上,采用地质水文地质调查、物探、钻探、抽水试验、地下水动态观测、水化学测试、盆地地下水水位统测和综合研究等技术方法,查明了黑河中游盆地南部山盆交接带的地质构造接触关系、地层岩性接触关系及梨园河口白垩系风化壳含水层结构和水文地质参数。通过山区不同流域等级的地表水与地下水转化关系分析,将山区地下水对平原区侧向径流补给带划分为大中型河流河谷补给段和小微型河流或冲沟群流域构成的浅山带补给段。河谷补给段勘探资料较为丰富,多用达西断面流方法计算;针对浅山带补给段极为缺乏勘探资料的实际,以梨园河口断面径流量为参照,构建了浅山带岩性、汇水区面积、降水量等3 个变量的山区地下水对平原区侧向径流补给量的估算方法。估算出黑河中游盆地南部山区浅山带地下水对平原的侧向径流补给量为0.40×108 m3/a,河谷段基岩侧向补给量为0.07×108 m3/a;推算出河谷段第四系地下水补给量为0.30×108 m3/a;3 项补给量之和为0.77×108 m3/a,占盆地地下水资源量的3.0%。该研究为西北内陆干旱盆地山区地下水对平原区侧向径流补给量的估算提供了一个可供借鉴的实例。     

Geochemical indicators of interbasin groundwater flow within the southern Rio Grande Valley, southwestern USA

Increased groundwater withdrawals for the growing population in the Rio Grande Valley and likely alteration of recharge to local aquifers with climate change necessitates an understanding of the groundwater connection between the Jornada del Muerto Basin and the adjoining and more heavily used aquifer in the Mesilla Basin. Separating the Jornada and Mesilla aquifers is a buried bedrock high from Tertiary intrusions. This bedrock high or divide restricts and/or retards interbasin flow from the Jornada aquifer into the Mesilla aquifer. The potentiometric surface of the southern Jornada aquifer near part of the bedrock high indicates a flow direction away from the divide because of a previously identified damming effect, but a groundwater outlet from the southern Jornada aquifer is necessary to balance inputs from the overall Jornada aquifer. Differences in geochemical constituents (major ions, δD, δ¹⁸O, δ³⁴S, and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) indicate a deeper connection between the two aquifers through the Tertiary intrusions where Jornada water is geochemically altered because of a geothermal influence. Jornada groundwater likely is migrating through the bedrock high in deeper pathways formed by faults of the Jornada Fault Zone, in addition to Jornada water that overtops the bedrock high as previously identified as the only connection between the two aquifers. Increased groundwater withdrawals and lowering of the potentiometric surface of the Jornada aquifer may alter this contribution ratio with less overtopping of the bedrock high and a continued deeper flowpath contribution that could potentially increase salinity values in the Mesilla Basin near the divide.     

The variability of heat flow both regional and with depth in southern Alberta, Canada: Effect of groundwater flow?

Detailed studies of terrestrial heat flow in southern and central Alberta estimated on the basis of an order of magnitude larger data base than ever used before (33653 bottom-hole temperature data from 18711 wells) and thermal conductivity values based on detailed rock studies and measured rock conductivities show significant regional and local variations and variations with depth. Heat flow values were estimated for each 3 × 3 township/range area (28.8 × 28.8 km). A difference in heat flow exists between Paleozoic and Mesozoic strata. Generally lower heat flow values are observed in the strata above the Paleozoic erosional surface (20–75 mW m⁻²). Much higher values are estimated for the Younger Paleozoic formations, with large local and regional variations between 40 and 100 mW m⁻².Average heat flow values based on heat flow determinations below and above the Paleozoic surface that agree within 20% show an increase from values less than 40 mW m⁻² in southern and southwestern Alberta to values as high as 70 mW m⁻² in central Alberta. The predominance of regional downward groundwater flows in Mesozoic strata seem to be responsible for the generally observed heat flow increase with depth.The results show that the basin heat flow pattern is influenced by water movement and even careful detailed heat flow measurements will not give correct values of background steady-state heat flow within the sedimentary strata.     

The granite problem as exposed in the southern Snake Range,Nevada

A geochemically and mineralogically diverse group of granitoids is present within an area of 900 km² in the southern Snake Range of eastern Nevada. The granitoids exposed range in age from Jurassic through Cretaceous to Oligocene and include two calcic intrusions, two different types of two-mica granites, and aplites. The younger intrusions appear to have been emplaced at progressively more shallow depths. All of these granitoid types are represented elsewhere in the eastern Great Basin, but the southern Snake Range is distinguished by the grouping of all these types within a relatively small area. The Jurassic calcic pluton of the Snake Creek-Williams Canyon area displays large and systematic chemical and mineralogical zonation over a horizontal distance of five km. Although major element variations in the pluton compare closely with Daly's average andesite-dacite-rhyolite over an SiO₂ range of 63 to 76 percent, trace element (Rb, Sr, Ba) variations show that the zonation is the result of in situ fractional crystallization, with the formation of relatively mafic cumulates on at least one wall of the magma chamber. Models of trace element and isotopic data indicate that relatively little assimilation took place at the level of crystallization. Nonetheless, an initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr value of 0.7071 and δ ¹⁸O values of 10.2 to 12.2 permil suggest a lower crustal magma that was contaminated by upper crustal clastic sedimentary rocks before crystallization. The involvement of mantle-derived magmas in its genesis is difficult to rule out. Two other Jurassic plutons show isotopic and chemical similarities to the Snake Creek-Williams Canyon pluton. Cretaceous granites from eastern Nevada that contain phenocrystic muscovite are strongly peraluminous, and have high initial Sr-isotope ratios and other features characteristic of S-type granitoids. They were probably derived from Proterozoic metasediments and granite gneisses that comprise the middle crust of this region. Another group of granitoids (including the Tertiary aplites) show chemical, mineralogic, and isotopic characteristics intermediate between the first two groups and may have been derived by contamination of magmas from the lower crust by the midcrustal metasediments.     

苏南地区地下水化学特征及演化分析

苏南地区深层地下水禁采距今已20年,水动力场和地下水环境发生了较大变化,结合2009年和2019年两期地下水采样测试数据,综合统计分析、Piper图、Gibbs模型、氯碱指数和离子相关关系等方法分析了不同层位地下水水文地球化学及其演化特征,探讨了水化学组分的来源及形成演化。结果表明：潜水水化学类型以HCO-3—Na+·Ca2+型为主,孔隙I承压水水化学类型以HCO-3—Ca2+·Mg2+型为主,深层承压水以HCO-3—Na+·Ca2+型为主,不同时期各层位优势阳离子和阴离子未发生变化,水化学类型向复杂趋势演变,地下水化学组分主要受岩石风化、阳离子交换吸附作用和人类活动的影响,其中潜水和I承压水—岩作用以硅酸盐岩和碳酸盐岩作用为主,深层承压水以硅酸盐岩和蒸发盐岩为主。研究结果可为苏南地区地下水资源开发和管理提供科学依据。     

苏南地区地下水化学特征及演化分析

苏南地区深层地下水禁采距今已20年,水动力场和地下水环境发生了较大变化,结合2009年和2019年两期地下水采样测试数据,综合统计分析、Piper图、Gibbs模型、氯碱指数和离子相关关系等方法分析了不同层位地下水水文地球化学及其演化特征,探讨了水化学组分的来源及形成演化。结果表明：潜水水化学类型以HCO-3—Na+·Ca2+型为主,孔隙I承压水水化学类型以HCO-3—Ca2+·Mg2+型为主,深层承压水以HCO-3—Na+·Ca2+型为主,不同时期各层位优势阳离子和阴离子未发生变化,水化学类型向复杂趋势演变,地下水化学组分主要受岩石风化、阳离子交换吸附作用和人类活动的影响,其中潜水和I承压水—岩作用以硅酸盐岩和碳酸盐岩作用为主,深层承压水以硅酸盐岩和蒸发盐岩为主。研究结果可为苏南地区地下水资源开发和管理提供科学依据。     

Noble gas and carbon isotopes in Mariana Trough basalt glasses

Noble gas elemental and isotopic compositions have been measured as well as the abundance of C and its isotopic ratios in 11 glasses from submarine pillow basalts collected from the Mariana Trough. The ³He/⁴He ratios of 8.22 and 8.51 R_atm of samples dredged from the central Mariana Trough (∼18°N) agree well with that of the Mid-Ocean Ridge Basalt (MORB) glasses (8.4±0.3 R_atm), whereas a mean ratio of 8.06±0.35 R_atm in samples from the northern Mariana Trough (∼20°N) is slightly lower than those of MORB. One sample shows apparent excess of ²⁰Ne and ²¹Ne relative to atmospheric Ne, suggesting incorporation of solar-type Ne in the magma source. There is a positive correlation between ³He/⁴He and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratios, which may be explained by mixing between MORB-type and atmospheric noble gases. Excess ¹²⁹Xe is observed in the sample which also shows ²⁰Ne and ²¹Ne excesses. Observed δ¹³C values of ∼20°N samples vary from −3.76‰ to −2.80‰, and appear higher than those of MORB, and the corresponding CO₂/³He ratios are higher than those of MARA samples at ∼18°N, suggesting C contribution from the subducted slab.     

Palynological evidence for early Holocene aridity in the southern Sierra Nevada, California

Sediments of Balsam Meadow have produced a 11,000-yr pollen record from the southern Sierra Nevada of California. The Balsam Meadow diagram is divided into three zones. (1) The Artemisia zone (11,000–7000 yr B.P.) is characterized by percentages of sagebrush (Artemisia) and other nonarboreal pollen higher than can be found in the modern local vegetation. Vegetation during this interval was probably similar to the modern vegetation on the east slope of the Sierra Nevada and the climate was drier than that of today. (2) Pinus pollen exceeded 80% from 7000 to 3000 yr B.P. in the Pinus zone. The climate was moister than during the Artemisia zone. (3) Fir (Abies, Cupressaceae, and oak (Quercus) percentages increased after 3000 yr B.P. in the Abies zone as the modern vegetation at the site developed and the present cool-moist climatic regime was established. Decreased fire frequency after 1200 yr B.P. is reflected in decreased abundance of macroscopic charcoal and increased concentration of Abies magnifica and Pinus murrayana needles.     

Tritium across the hydrologic systems of southern Ontario,Canada: implications for groundwater age dating in the Great Lakes Basin

Modern, ambient tritium concentrations in precipitation are lower and more temporally consistent now that they have recovered from the historic thermonuclear bomb peak of the mid-1960s. With the bomb peak no longer the overriding influence on atmospheric tritium concentrations, anthropogenic point sources, such as nuclear-generating stations (NGS), have the largest influence, though the extent and temporal variability of this influence remains uncharacterized. The lack of precipitation monitoring locations means that spatial trends in tritium concentrations in precipitation are unknown. To address this data gap, tritium concentrations in shallow modern groundwater are interpolated throughout southern Ontario (Canada), at the center of the Great Lakes Basin, and the interpolation is tested as a precipitation proxy with a statistical comparison that shows good agreement between the shallow groundwater and precipitation datasets. The shallow groundwater tritium interpolation is used to delineate the extent of NGS influence as representing 66% of the study area. Recharge timings in the subcropping bedrock aquifers of the study area are interpreted qualitatively in areas outside of NGS influence to be primarily a mix of pre-bomb and modern recharge, with no indication of peak recharge levels remaining. The influence of drift thickness on the proportion of tritium-dead versus tritium-live samples is observed spatially and confirmed by comparing data distributions. The oldest waters (pre-1953) tend to occur in subcropping bedrock aquifers underlying the thickest sediment packages.

     

Transport of colloidal contaminants in groundwater: radionuclide migration at the Nevada test site

Large-volume groundwater samples were collected at the Nevada Test Site from within a nuclear detonation cavity and from approximately 300 m outside the cavity. The samples were filtered and ultrafiltered, and the filtrates and various particle size fractions were analyzed for chemical composition and radionuclide activity. In samples from both locations, approximately 100% of the transition element (Mn, Co) and lanthanide (Ce, Eu) radionuclides were associated with colloids. Their presence outside the cavity indicates transport in the colloidal form. Distribution coefficients calculated for Ru, Sb, and Cs nuclides from both field sample locations indicate equilibrium partitioning on the 0.05-0.003 μm colloids. Calculation of transport efficiencies relative to colloid mass concentrations and dissolved neutral or anionic nuclides indicates that both the cations and the radiolabelled colloids appear to experience capture by or exchange with immobile aquifer surfaces.