The mechanism of 234U 238U activity ratio enhancement in karstic limestone groundwater
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Data
1993-01-05
Autores
Bonotto, Daniel Marcos [UNESP]
Andrews, J. N.
Título da Revista
ISSN da Revista
Título de Volume
Editor
Elsevier B.V.
Resumo
Experimental etch/leach of Carboniferous Limestone gravels on a laboratory time-scale has demonstrated that 234U 238U activity ratios (AR's) greater than the radiochemical equilibrium value may be generated on short time-scales. The molar U/Ca and Mg/Ca ratios show that both U and Mg are leached preferentially relative to Ca whereas the molar U/Mg ratio is only slightly greater than that of the rock matrix. The generation of enhanced AR's is attributed to a two-stage process in which the limestone surface is dissolved by zero-order etch and silicate minerals so released are subjected to first-order chemical leach of U and Mg. The implications of these results for the production of enhanced AR's in Carboniferous Limestone groundwater are discussed. It is suggested that chemical leaching or exchange of U between groundwater and its particulate load or at the aquifer fluid-solid interface is an important mechanism controlling AR changes as groundwater migrates beyond a redox boundary. AR's for dissolved U in groundwater are more probably related to chemical equilibria than to groundwater age. © 1993.
Descrição
Palavras-chave
Activity ratio, Chemical leaching, Etching, Groundwater, Groundwater chemistry, Isotope activity ratio, Karst, Leaching, Limestone, Limestone aquifer, Uranium- 234/uranium-238, Uranium-234, Uranium-238
Como citar
Chemical Geology, v. 103, n. 1-4, p. 193-206, 1993.