Hydrogeologic and Geochemical Studies of Selected Natural Radioisotopes and Barium in Groundwater in Illinois

摘要

Dissolved concentration of the natural radioisotopes super 222Rn, 226Ra, 228Ra, super 230Th, super 232Th, super 234U, and super 238U and the element Basuper (2+) were investigated in a study of high concentrations of super 226Ra, super 228Ra, and Ba super (2+) in groundwater from the Cambrian and Ordovician bedrock of northern Illinois. The high radium and barium concentrations are present in the major aquifers - the sandstone bedrock. Therefore, remedial well construction measures will not lower the concentrations. The combined concentrations of super 226Ra and super 228Ra range from 2.3 to 50.2 pCi/L; the majority of analyses exceed the drinking water reulations of 50.0 pCi/L. The high Ba super (2+) concentrations occur in groundwater that is depleted in dissolved SO sub 4 (2-)by anaerobic microbial reactions. A map presents the distribution of Ba super 2+ in groundwater from the Cambrian and Ordovician bedrock in northeastern Illinois.