Uranium transport around the reactor zone at Bangombé and Okélobondo (Oklo): examples of hydrogeological and geochemical model integration and data evaluation

The sites at Bangombé and Okélobondo (Oklo) in Gabon provide a unique opportunity to study the behaviour of products from natural nuclear reactions in the vicinity of reactor zones which were active around two billion years ago. The Commission of the European Communities initiated the Oklo Natural Analogue Programme. One of the principal aims was to study indications of present time migration of elements from the reactor zones under ambient conditions. The hydrogeological and hydrochemical data from the Oklo sites were modelled in order to better understand the geochemical behaviour of radionuclides in the natural system, by using independent models and by comparing the modelling outcome. Two modelling approaches were used: M3 code (hydrochemical mixing and mass balance model), developed by the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company (SKB) and HYTEC (reactive transport model) developed by Ecole des Mines de Paris.Two different reactor zones were studied: Bangombé, a shallow site, the reactor being at 11 m depth, and OK84 at Okélobondo, situated at about 450 m depth, more comparable with a real repository location. This allowed the validation of modelling tools in two different sedimentary environments: one shallow, with a more homogeneous layering situated in an area of meteoric alteration, and the other offering the opportunity to study radionuclide migration from the reaction zone over a distance of 450 m through very heterogeneous sedimentary layers.The modeling results indicate that the chemical reactions retarding radionuclide transport are very different at the two sites. At Bangombé, the decomposition of organic material consumes oxygen and at Okélobondo the oxygen is consumed by inorganic reactions resulting, in both cases, in uranium retardation. Both modelling approaches (statistic with M3 code and deterministic with HYTEC code) could describe this situation.The goal of this exercise is to test codes which can help to describe and understand the processes taking place at the sites, validate the models with in situ data, and thus build confidence in the tools used for future site characterization. Ultimately, this allows identifying and selecting processes and parameters that can be used as input into repository performance assessment calculations and modelling exercises.     

Hydrogeochemistry and Groundwater Quality Assessment of Lower Part of the Ponnaiyar River Basin, Cuddalore District, South India

The Lower Ponnaiyar River Basin forms an important groundwater province in South India constituted by Tertiary formations dominated by sandstones and overlain by alluvium. The region enjoyed artesian conditions 50 years back but at present frequent failure of monsoon and over exploitation is threatening the aquifer. Further, extensive agricultural and industrial activities and urbanization has resulted in the increase in demand and contamination of the aquifer. To identify the sources and quality of groundwater, water samples from 47 bore wells were collected in an area of 154 km² and were analysed for major ions and trace metals. The results reveal that the groundwater in many places is contaminated by higher concentrations of NO₃, Cl, PO₄ and Fe. Four major hydrochemical facies Ca–Mg–Cl, Na–Cl, Ca–HCO₃ and Na–HCO₃ were identified using Piper trilinear diagram. Salinity, sodium adsorption ratio, and sodium percentage indicate that most of the groundwater samples are not suitable for irrigation as well as for domestic purposes and far from drinking water standards. The most serious pollution threat to groundwater is from nitrate ions, which are associated with sewage and fertilizers application. The present state of the quality of the lower part of Ponnaiyar River Basin is of great concern and the higher concentration of toxic metals (Fe and Ni) may entail various health hazards.     

稳定同位素模型解析大气氨来源的参数敏感性

氨(NH_3)是大气霾污染和过量氮沉降的关键前体物,准确厘清其来源是制定NH_3减排策略的科学基础.稳定同位素模型(SIAR)在NH_3溯源研究中展现出巨大潜力,其解析结果的可靠性与NH_3排放源的氮同位素指纹谱(δ~(15)N-NH_3)密切相关.本研究基于2013年1月北京霾污染期间的同位素观测资料,使用SIAR评估了3个重要源谱参数(源的数量、源的δ~(15)N-NH_3特征值及其标准差)对NH_3源解析的影响.结果表明,农业源的贡献率对源谱δ~(15)N-NH_3特征值的变化最敏感,其次为化石燃烧源,氨逃逸源的敏感性最低.农业源δ~(15)N-NH_3标准差的改变仅造成农业源贡献率变化约4%,但其特征值的改变却造成农业源贡献率20%的变化.相比之下,将农业源拆分为化肥挥发和畜牧养殖源后,解析结果并未显著增加农业源的总贡献,即"非农业源"仍然是2013年初北京霾污染期间NH_3的重要来源.考虑到农业源的贡献率对SIAR模型参数改变的响应最为敏感,且不同类型的农业源δ~(15)N-NH_3差异较大,未来需要针对农业源δ~(15)N-NH_3的时空变化规律及影响因素开展深入研究,以此来降低同位素源解析模型的不确定性.     

娘子关泉群水化学特征及成因

娘子关泉群流量7.19m³·s^-1,提水量约1.7 m³·s^-1,其是阳泉市区和平定县城主要供水水源.查明其泉群水化学特征及成因,对合理利用水资源与污染防治具有重要意义.以娘子关泉域岩溶大泉为研究对象,通过样品采集和水化学同位素,以地球科学系统理论为指导综合运用地质构造、水化学监测和同位素方法分析娘子关泉群水化学特征及成因.娘子关泉群其pH值7.2~7.5.钙离子112.1~135.2 mg·L^-1.硫酸根离子185.6~271.8 mg·L^-1.水化学类型为HCO₃·SO₄-Ca·Mg.泉群水化学特征总体表现为高Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺和SO₄^2-,低Na⁺、K⁺和Cl^-.城西泉的补给路径较短,其次是五龙泉.其余5组泉补给路径较远.娘子关泉群水化学特征表现为：煤矿酸性排水的污染有加剧趋势,生活污水的污染有减缓趋势.环境同位素示踪显示城西泉的SO₄^2-主要来源于大气降水和石膏溶解.五龙泉的SO₄^2-值增加,其变化主要受煤矿酸性水污染量的影响.