Application of Isotopes in Environmental Investigations
Application of Isotopes in Environmental Investigations
El Dorado Hills, CA Nevada City, CA Rocklin, CA San Andreas, CA Stockton, CA Reno, NV
Thomas Butler PG, CHG, CEGSenior Hydrogeologist/Geochemist
Thomas Butler PG, CHG, [email protected]
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Adapted from Training Handbook for Disposal of NonAdapted from Training Handbook for Disposal of Non--Designated Waste to Land Systems:Designated Waste to Land Systems:
Design, Operation, and Monitoring. Water Board Training Design, Operation, and Monitoring. Water Board Training Academy, July 2004 Academy, July 2004
Why Isotopes?
Potential Utility at Land Disposal FacilitiesSpatial Variability
Thomas Butler PG, CHG, [email protected]
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Potential Utility at Land Disposal FacilitiesSpatial Variability
Adapted from Training Handbook for Disposal of NonAdapted from Training Handbook for Disposal of Non--Designated Waste to Land Systems:Designated Waste to Land Systems:
Design, Operation, and Monitoring. Water Board Training Design, Operation, and Monitoring. Water Board Training Academy, July 2004 Academy, July 2004
WWTF WWTF NotNot Present When Present When GW Samples TakenGW Samples Taken
Why Isotopes?
Thomas Butler PG, CHG, [email protected]
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Potential Utility at Land Disposal FacilitiesSpatial Variability
Why Isotopes?
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Why Isotopes?
Potential Utility at Land Disposal FacilitiesSpatial Variability
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Outline
What is an isotope?
Why is isotope geochemistry a useful tool in investigating environmental phenomena?
Practical examples….
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FundamentalsIsotope – One of two or more forms of an element that have the same number of protons (atomic number) however a different number of neutrons, and thus a different atomic mass. May be stable or radioactive
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FundamentalsIsotope Ratio:(R) = Heavy/Light
Stable Isotopes Expressed as:δR = (Rsample/Rref. – 1)*1000permil (‰)
From Kendall and McDonnnell, 1998
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Fundamentals
From Clark and Fritz, 1997
Why are stable isotope useful? – Fingerprinting (source) and Fractionation(changes in the isotopic values)
Fractionation Examples:
H2O –EvaporationNO3 –DenitrificationHydrocarbons –Degradation
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Fundamentals of Isotope Geochemistry
from Clark and Fritz, 1997
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Stable Isotopes of Water
*from Kendall and McDonnell, 1998
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Application
Water Rights Appropriation, Washoe County, Nevada
Application
Water Rights Appropriation, Washoe County, Nevada
Thomas Butler PG, CHG, [email protected]
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Water Rights AppropriationWashoe County, Nevada
-15.8/-122
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Water Rights AppropriationWashoe County, Nevada
-130
-120
-110
-100
-90
-80
-70
-60
-18 -17 -16 -15 -14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6
δ18O (PERMIL, VSMOW)
δ2 H (P
ERM
IL, V
SMO
W)
WF-1W3BW-36W5CoyoteBiddleman WellBiddleman SpringWGWSUSGS Ave Truckee RiverUSGS 19USGS 20USGS 21USGS 22USGS 23USGS 24USGS 26USGS 29USGS 30USGS 38USGS 47USGS 51USGS 53Average Local RechargeTRCC-1TRCC-2TRCC-3
Typical of Groundwater Dominated by Precipitation Recharge
USGS Ave. Truckee River Water Recharge
Thomas Butler PG, CHG, [email protected]
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Application
Salinity Impacts at a Land Disposal Facility, Solano County, California
Application
Salinity Impacts at a Land Disposal Facility, Solano County, California
Thomas Butler PG, CHG, [email protected]
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Application – Solano County
Combined Solute and Water Isotope Data Valuable for:
Identifying Regional Mixing Related to Agricultural Water SourcesFingerprinting Salinity Sources (wastewater vs. non-wastewater)Quantification of Regional Salinity trendsIdentification of processes/source influencing compliance wells
Thomas Butler PG, CHG, [email protected]
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Application
Salinity Impacts at a Land Disposal Facility, Yolo County, California
Application
Salinity Impacts at a Land Disposal Facility, Yolo County, California
Thomas Butler PG, CHG, [email protected]
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Application – Yolo County
Combined Solute and Water Isotope Data Valuable for:
Fingerprinting Salinity Sources at Compliance Wells (percolated pond water vs. background source)Identification of Groundwater/Surface Water Mixing relationshipsQuantification of Chemical Changes in Effluent during Evaporation
Thomas Butler PG, CHG, [email protected]
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Application
Water Supply Investigation, San Joaquin County, California
Application
Water Supply Investigation, San Joaquin County, California
Thomas Butler PG, CHG, [email protected]
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Supply Well, San Joaquin County
-69.2-8.932160ND-72M (Deep)
-77.6-10.6712ND-72M (Shallow)
-77.4-10.6236Park Supply Well
0019400Seawater
δ2H (permil, VSMOW)
δ18O (permil, VSMOW)Chloride (mg/l)Well/Water Source
Isotope data indicates that 89% of water at the ND-72M Deep is river water
This info was then used to model a theoretical Cl concentration = 2140 mg/l
(Very similar to the measured value)
Thomas Butler PG, CHG, [email protected]
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Application
Land Disposal Facility, Stanislaus County, California
Application
Land Disposal Facility, Stanislaus County, California
Thomas Butler PG, CHG, [email protected]
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Wastewater Treatment Plant – Conventional Aerated Pond Treatment, San Joaquin County, CA
Thomas Butler PG, CHG, [email protected]
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Wastewater Treatment Plant – Conventional Aerated Pond Treatment, San Joaquin County, CA
‐80
‐70
‐60
‐50
‐40
‐30
‐20
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000
Chloride (mg/L)
δ2 H (p
ermil, VSM
OW)
MW‐1 MW‐2 MW‐3 MW‐4 MW‐5 A‐Line Irrigation Ditch Effluent Reservoir Influent (composite) Water Supply
Thomas Butler PG, CHG, [email protected]
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Wastewater Treatment Plant – Conventional Aerated Pond Treatment, San Joaquin County, CA
‐80
‐70
‐60
‐50
‐40
‐30
‐20
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000
Chloride (mg/L)
δ2 H (p
ermil, VSM
OW)
MW‐1 MW‐2 MW‐3 MW‐4MW‐5 A‐Line Irrigation Ditch Effluent ReservoirInfluent (composite) Water Supply Evaporation Model (Closed)
Transpiration of Crops Irrigated with Local Groundwater
Transpiration of Crops Irrigated with Effluent Groundwater
Thomas Butler PG, CHG, [email protected]
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Wastewater Treatment Plant – Conventional Aerated Pond Treatment, San Joaquin County, CA
‐80
‐70
‐60
‐50
‐40
‐30
‐20
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000
Chloride (mg/L)
δ2 H (p
ermil, VSM
OW)
MW‐1 MW‐2 MW‐3 MW‐4MW‐5 A‐Line Irrigation Ditch Effluent ReservoirInfluent (composite) Water Supply Transpiration/Mixing Model Evaporation Model (Closed)
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Transpiration of Crops Irrigated with Local Groundwater
Transpiration of Crops Irrigated with Effluent Groundwater
Thomas Butler PG, CHG, [email protected]
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Application
Water Supply Investigation, Mono County, California
Application
Water Supply Investigation, Mono County, California
Thomas Butler PG, CHG, [email protected]
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Hydraulic Connectivity of Well Supply and Surface Water – Mono County, California
Test Well 2Test Well 1
Reversed Creek - Upstream of Ski AreaGull Lake
Ski Area WellSpring Across from Ski Area
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Hydraulic Connectivity of Well Supply and Surface Water – Mono County, California
Gull Lake hydraulically up gradient of supply wells and springs.
Are the springs and/or supply wells in hydraulic communication with the Lake?
Will production from the well likely have an impact on lake levels?
What are the sources (or other sources) of water to the supply wells?
Surface Water Monitoring
Potential Production Wells
Existing Production Well
Spring
Location GWE Well 1 7,556 feet Well 2 7,566 feet Gull Lake 7,602 feet
Thomas Butler PG, CHG, [email protected]
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Hydraulic Connectivity of Well Supply and Surface Water – Mono County, California
Test Well 2Test Well 1
Reversed Creek - Upstream of Ski AreaGull Lake
Ski Area WellSpring Across from Ski Area
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Hydraulic Connectivity of Well Supply and Surface Water – Mono County, California
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Hydraulic Connectivity of Well Supply and Surface Water – Mono County, California
-130
-125
-120
-115
-110
-105
-100
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0
Chloride (mg/L)
δ2 H (p
erm
il, V
SMO
W)
Gull Lake
Reversed Creek - Upstream of Ski Area
Ski Area Well
Spring-Across from Ski Area
Test Well 1
Test Well 2
Thomas Butler PG, CHG, [email protected]
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7602 feet
7566 feet
7556 feet
Hydraulic Connectivity of Well Supply and Surface Water – Mono County, California
Pumping Tests (Well 1 and Well 2)No response in observation well during pumping test of either Well 1 or Well 2
No response in Spring during Well 1 pumping test
There was a response in the Spring during Well 2 pumping test
Thomas Butler PG, CHG, [email protected]
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Isotopes and LandfillsSan Francisco Bay Area, California
Isotopes and LandfillsSan Francisco Bay Area, California
Thomas Butler PG, CHG, [email protected]
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Isotopes and MinesSan Francisco Bay Area, California
Isotopes and MinesSan Francisco Bay Area, California
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Processes Influencing Acid Generation and Metals Transport – Leona Heights Sulfur Mine, Oakland, California
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Processes Influencing Acid Generation and Metals Transport – Leona Heights Sulfur Mine, Oakland, California
Exposed waste rock and acid minedrainage (Leona Heights SulfurMine, Oakland, Ca)
Thomas Butler PG, CHG, [email protected]
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-10
-8
-6
-4
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
-16 -14 -12 -10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10
δ 18OWater (permil, VSMOW)
δ18
OSu
lfate
(per
mil,
VSM
OW
)
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
LH
SM A
lameda C
ounty, Ca
PA C
oal Mines
Processes Influencing Acid Generation and Metals Transport – Leona Heights Sulfur Mine, Oakland, California
Pyrite Oxidation:
1. FeS2(s) + 3.5O2 + H2O = Fe2+ + 2SO42- + 2H+ (pH>4)
Fe2+ + 0.25O2 + H+ = Fe3+ + 0.5H2O (Catalyzed by bacteria at pH <4)
3. FeS2(s) + 14Fe3+ + 8H2O = 15Fe2+ + 2SO42- +16H+
Stoichiometric Isotope-Balance Model:
4. δ18OSO4 = XH2O(δ18Ow + εw) + (1 – XH2O)[0.875(δ18Oa + εa) + 0.125(δ18Ow + εw)]
5. XH2O = (δ18OSO4 – 0.125*δ18Ow – 11.5375)/(0.875*δ18Ow – 7.4375)
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Processes Influencing Acid Generation and Metals Transport – Leona Heights Sulfur Mine, Oakland, California
0.00
0.50
1.00
1.50
2.00
2.50
4/25/02 0:00 4/25/02 12:00 4/26/02 0:00 4/26/02 12:00 4/27/02 0:00 4/27/02 12:00 4/28/02 0:00
Date/Time Sampled (Pacific Standard Time)
Dis
solv
ed F
erro
us Ir
on M
ass
Flux
(mm
ol/m
in)
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
Inso
latio
n (W
/m2 )
Ferrous Iron
Insolation
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Processes Influencing Acid Generation and Metals Transport – Leona Heights Sulfur Mine, Oakland, California
7.10
7.30
7.50
7.70
7.90
8.10
7/3/2002 0:00 7/3/2002 12:00 7/4/2002 0:00 7/4/2002 12:00 7/5/2002 0:00 7/5/2002 12:00 7/6/2002 0:00
Date/Time
pH
0
200
400
600
800
1000
OR
P (m
V) a
nd
Inso
latio
n (W
/m2 )
pH Lake Aliso ORP Lake Aliso Insolation
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Processes Influencing Acid Generation and Metals Transport – Leona Heights Sulfur Mine, Oakland, California
6.6 5.6 6.9 6.3 6.9 6.3
198
161
198
181191
161
72
49
6653
6653
0
50
100
150
200
250
7/3/2002 0:00 7/3/2002 12:00 7/4/2002 0:00 7/4/2002 12:00 7/5/2002 0:00 7/5/2002 12:00 7/6/2002 0:00
Date/Time
Mas
s Flu
x (m
g/m
in)
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
Inso
latio
n (W
/m2 )
Copper Manganese Zinc Insolation
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Solute Isotopes/Other Tools
http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Publications/pic14/pic14_1.htmlcommons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Boric-acid-2D.png
http://etharelkatatney.blogspot.com/2008/06/bitter-pill-to-swallow.html
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Source of Boron
from Hoefs, 2004
WastewaterNonmarine evaporitesBorax/NaBO4 (-1 to +7‰)
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Rare Earth Elements
Anthropogenic Gadolinium
Lack of Anthropogenic Gadolinium
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Source of Recharge and Age Dating
0.20
0.30
0.40
0.50
0.60
0.70
0.80
0.90
1.00
0 10 20 30 40 50
Temperature (C)
Perc
ent R
elat
ive
Dec
reas
e in
Sol
ubili
ty He
Ne
NO
Ar
Kr
Xe
Typical USAGroundwaterTemperature
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Source of Recharge and Age Dating
Isotope/Compound Decay Product Half Life (yrs)
Issues/Deficiencies
Tritium (3H) Helium-3 (3He) 12.43 Accounting for excess air and crustal sources (6Li + n = 3H + α)
Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) NA NA Accounting for excess air and potential local sources
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) NA NA Reduction of the CFCs has resulted in limited uses for recent GW Recharge
Krypton-85 (85Kr) Rubidum-85 (85Rb) 10.76 Large volume of water (~100 L)
Argon-39 (39Ar) Potassium-39 (39K) 256 Large volumes of water(~1000L); specialized analysis
Isotope/Compound Decay Product Half Life (yrs)
Issues/Deficiencies
Tritium (3H) Helium-3 (3He) 12.43 Accounting for excess air and crustal sources (6Li + n = 3H + α)
Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) NA NA Accounting for excess air and potential local sources
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) NA NA Reduction of the CFCs has resulted in limited uses for recent GW Recharge
Krypton-85 (85Kr) Rubidum-85 (85Rb) 10.76 Large volume of water (~100 L)
Argon-39 (39Ar) Potassium-39 (39K) 256 Large volumes of water(~1000L); specialized analysis
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Fundamentals of Isotope Geochemistry
from U.S. Geological Fact Sheet 134-99from Clark and Fritz, 1997
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The End….The End….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5ZFoU0S5iE&NR=1