Radon-222 and Chloride as Natural Tracers of the Infiltration of River Water into an Alluvial Aquifer in Which There Is Significant River/Groundwater Mixing

Natural dissolved super(222)Rn concentration increases with distance as Lot River water infiltrates into an alluvial aquifer. At distances greater than 150 m from the river, super(222)Rn has a constant value of ca. 55 Bq L super(-1). This is in agreement with the theory that the increase of super(22...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 1994-05, Vol.28 (5), p.794-798
Main Authors: Bertin, Clotilde, Bourg, Alain C. M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquifers
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Freshwater
Geochemistry
Groundwater
Hydrology
Hydrology. Hydrogeology
Mineralogy
Radon
Rivers
Silicates
Water geochemistry
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Summary:Natural dissolved super(222)Rn concentration increases with distance as Lot River water infiltrates into an alluvial aquifer. At distances greater than 150 m from the river, super(222)Rn has a constant value of ca. 55 Bq L super(-1). This is in agreement with the theory that the increase of super(222)Rn along the infiltration path can be described by a radioactive law. In the aquifer investigated, the infiltrating river water mixes with groundwater from the neighboring hills. Radon is used to trace the infiltration of river water into the aquifer. Chloride is used to quantify the mixing of river water with groundwater. Mean velocities calculated from Rn and Cl data are consistent with the local hydrology (0.6 m d super(-1) in the first 4 m of infiltration and 3.3 m d super(-1) in the depression cone of a pumping well).
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/es00054a008