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Inferring Ground Water Flow in Fractured Rock from Dissolved Radon
Author(s) -
Cook P. G.,
Love A. J.,
Dighton J.C.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
groundwater
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.84
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1745-6584
pISSN - 0017-467X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-6584.1999.tb01148.x
Subject(s) - radon , borehole , piezometer , aquifer , geology , groundwater , hydrology (agriculture) , groundwater flow , aquifer test , soil science , mineralogy , geotechnical engineering , groundwater recharge , physics , quantum mechanics
Ground water radon concentrations have been measured in nested piezometers and an open borehole in fractured, metasedimentary aquifers in the Clare Valley, South Australia. The vertical radon concentration profile within the undisturbed, open borehole appears to indicate the locations of hydraulically active fractures. If radon concentrations within the aquifer are uniform, then the highest radon concentration within the borehole will indicate the location of the highest flow rate into the bore. In relatively short screened piezometers, radon concentrations have been measured both before and after purging. The ratio of radon concentration before to after purging normalizes for variations in aquifer mineralogy, and can be used to quantify the ground water flow rate.