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A method to estimate hydraulic conductivity from bulk geochemical compositions

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

A new method has been developed to estimate the hydraulic conductivity in unconsolidated aquifers. The method uses bulk geochemical compositions correlated with hydraulic conductivities measured by pumping tests. The concept is based on a general rule that hydraulic conductivity is principally controlled by grain-size distribution and particle shape,both of which relate to mineralogical composition. Using a MINLITH algorithm, normative mineralogical compositions can be derived from bulk geochemical compositions economically and expediently, and then correlated to the hydraulic conductivity determined by pumping tests in the field. In this study, 202 sediment samples from nine unconsolidated aquifers were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence. Although hydraulic conductivity does not show a definite relationship with geochemical compositions, it does demonstrate a linear logarithmic equation to the content of normative earthy minerals. However, linear regressed equations should not be applied to aquifers composed of medium to coarse sand and gravel sizes due to interference from lithic fragments. In addition, this equation tends to overestimate hydraulic conductivity possibly because the effect of compaction is ignored in this study.

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Acknowledgments

Special thanks go to Dr Chi-yu Lee for supporting on geochemical analysis. The author appreciates critical comments from the reviewers who guide this manuscript into a more appropriate direction. This work was funded by Central Geological Survey, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan. Chao-Chung Lin and Li-Yuan Fei are thanked for their support to promote the project.

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  1. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, 168, University Road, Min-Hsiung Chia-Yi, Chung Cheng, Taiwan

    Hsueh-Yu Lu

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  1. Hsueh-Yu Lu
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Correspondence to Hsueh-Yu Lu.

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Lu, HY. A method to estimate hydraulic conductivity from bulk geochemical compositions. Environ Geol 51, 1029–1041 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0372-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0372-4

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