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Characterizing the heterogeneity and correlation of perchloroethene sorption and hydraulic conductivity using a facies‐based approach
Author(s) -
AllenKing Richelle M.,
Halket Richard M.,
Gaylord David R.,
Robin Michel J. L.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/97wr03496
Subject(s) - facies , hydraulic conductivity , geology , soil science , aquifer , sedimentary rock , sorption , mineralogy , scale (ratio) , petrology , geomorphology , groundwater , geochemistry , geotechnical engineering , chemistry , soil water , cartography , organic chemistry , adsorption , geography , structural basin
A facies‐based approach was used to delineate both geochemical and physical aquifer property heterogeneity. Specifically, the parameters considered were the sorption coefficient ( K d ) for a model organic contaminant and hydraulic conductivity ( K ) inferred from the particle size distribution. Subfacies‐sized samples were analyzed for both tetrachloroethene K d and K in a vertical core of the Borden aquifer. Both parameters were correlated with the six sedimentary facies identified within the vertical core. As a consequence of their relations to sedimentary facies, significant positive correlations between ln K and ln K d which were different from the core‐scale correlation and different from each other were identified for some facies. Fades‐specific correlations generally resulted in improved statistics (i.e., higher correlation coefficients and reduced confidence intervals) compared to the core‐scale correlation. The results suggest that a facies‐based approach can be useful in characterizing the heterogeneity of the transport properties of sedimentary aquifers.