Deuterium as a Tracer in the Groundwater Study of a Central North Dakota Mining Area

摘要

As part of a joint project designed to evaluate the impact of surface mining and reclamation on groundwater and surface water quality and quantity, the hydrogen isotope contents of water samples from two central North Dakota study areas have been analysed using mass spectrometric method. Part of the groundwater samples taken from Center Mine area (disturbed setting) showed evaporative effects, which might be related to the exposure to atmosphere as a result of mining. Samples taken near or inside waste disposal sites also showed distinctive deviation from meteroic water line.