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Geochemical Approaches to Understanding a Shallow Groundwater Flow in the Kanamaru Uranium Mineralization Area (Japan)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2011

Regis Bros
Affiliation:
[email protected], National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Research Center for Deep Geological Environments, Tsukuba Central 7, 1-1, Higashi 1-Chome, TSUKUBA, IBARAKI-KEN, 305-8567, Japan
Yoji Seki
Affiliation:
[email protected], National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Research Center for Deep Geological Environments, Japan
Atsushi Kamei
Affiliation:
[email protected], Shimane University, Japan
Yutaka Kanai
Affiliation:
[email protected], National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Research Center for Deep Geological Environments, Japan
Koichi Okuzawa
Affiliation:
[email protected], National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Research Center for Deep Geological Environments
Yoshio Watanabe
Affiliation:
[email protected], National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Research Center for Deep Geological Environments, Japan
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Abstract

Predicting the behaviour of radioactive wastes can be facilitated by comparison with the evolution of natural groundwater systems. During a study of the Kanamaru U mineralization (Japan), geochemical approaches for understanding a shallow (0-50 m) fresh groundwater flow system are being assessed. Deep granitic waters are Ca-HCO3-dominated and slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. Shallow waters within sediments display lower pH and they are more dilute. Halide concentrations suggest the existence of a non marine Br-rich and Cl-depleted deep groundwater in the basement. 234U/238U and 230Th/234U activity ratios in the mineralized sedimentary rocks indicate that U mobilization took place within the last 350,000 years. U dissolution currently continues and it is controled by lateral groundwater flow whereas vertical diffusion appears negligible. Dissolved alkaline earths concentrations and the 87Sr/86Sr ratio indicate that solutes exchanges take place through uppermost low permeable granite followed by mixing with more dilute and Cl-type shallow groundwater.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2006

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References

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