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http://dx.doi.org/10.9720/kseg.2021.4.659

Occurrence of Uranium-238 and Rn-222 in Groundwater and Its Relationship with Helium Isotope  

Jeong, Chan Ho (Department of Construction Safety and Disaster Prevention Engineering, Daejeon University)
Lee, Yu Jin (Department of Construction Safety and Disaster Prevention Engineering, Daejeon University)
Lee, Yong Cheon (Department of Construction Safety and Disaster Prevention Engineering, Daejeon University)
Hong, Jin Woo (Department of Construction Safety and Disaster Prevention Engineering, Daejeon University)
Kim, Cheon Hwan (Department of Construction Safety and Disaster Prevention Engineering, Daejeon University)
Nagao, Keisuke (Division of Polar Earth System Science, Korea Polar Research Institute)
Kim, Young-Seog (Department of Geological Environmental, Pukyong National University)
Kang, Tae-Seob (Department of Geological Environmental, Pukyong National University)
Publication Information
The Journal of Engineering Geology / v.31, no.4, 2021 , pp. 659-669 More about this Journal
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to elucidate the relationship between occurrence of natural radioactive materials such as 238U and 222Rn and original mixing ratio of helium isotope of groundwater from various geology, and to suggest the underground aquifer environment from helium original mixing data. 9 groundwater samples were collected from five study areas, and 238U, Rn-222 and helium isotope were analyzed. A high 238U content of the range of 218~477 ㎍ /L in the groundwater occurs in the twomica granite. 4He air-crust mixing ratio and the Rn-222 content show a rough relation, that is, Rn-222 content increases according to the increase of 4He crust mixing ratio. Because of helium and radon are an inert gas, their behavior in underground environment is assumed as an analogous. The 238U content and He isotope in groundwater does not show any distinct correlation. The groundwater can be classified as three groups (air, air-crust mixing, crust-mantle mixing origin) on the diagram of 3He/4He vs 4He/20Ne, which is composed of original mixing line from air-crust-mantle end members. This original mixing of helium can provide the information of underground aquifer characteristic such as the connection with surface environment or isolation condition from air environment.
Keywords
U-238; Rn-222; He isotope; two-mica granite; air-crust helium mixing ratio;
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