Geochemical Characterization of Deep Groundwater in KURT Using Geochemical Modeling
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 138, Issue 3
Abstract
A total of 11 boreholes were drilled at depths of 20–500 m to investigate the geochemical characteristics of groundwater at the KAERI Underground Research Tunnel (KURT) site. The groundwater chemistry up to a depth of 500 m at the KURT site was divided into and types in the groundwater system. and types showed that the geochemistry of the groundwater was influenced by weathering, dissolution, or precipitation of minerals in the system. The type of groundwater resulted from water-rock interaction such as weathering of plagioclase and dissolution of carbonate minerals. The ratios increased at depths in the groundwater, implying that the weathering reaction of plagioclase occurred in the system, which released Na ions into the groundwater. Also, ratios showed a similar pattern in the groundwater, indicating a weathering reaction of carbonate minerals such as calcite that adds to the groundwater. The scattered distribution of and tritium values indicated that a mixing process occurred in the groundwater system, which new water recharged into the system and mixed with old groundwater formation in the deeper part of groundwater system. The results from geochemical modeling showed reasonable fits in major ion profiles from observed values at groundwater sampling points. The model indicated that the simulated major processes, including major parameters used in the modeling, reflected the actual groundwater condition well. This study showed that the geochemical characteristics of the groundwater were controlled by various factors including the weathering of minerals such as plagioclase and K-feldspar, dissolution or precipitation of calcite, a mixing process, and, possibly, ion exchange.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by Radioactive Waste Management of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) grant funded by the Korea government Ministry of Knowledge Economy (No. UNSPECIFIED201017102002D).
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Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 138 • Issue 3 • March 2012
Pages: 351 - 359
Copyright
© 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 1, 2010
Accepted: Sep 16, 2011
Published online: Sep 19, 2011
Published in print: Mar 1, 2012
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