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Testing the 14C ages and conservative behavior of dissolved 14C in a carbonate aquifer in Yucca Flat, Nevada (USA), using 36Cl from groundwater and packrat middens

Détermination des âges au 14C et test du comportement conservative du 14C dissous dans un aquifère carbonaté du Yucca Flat, Nevada (Etats Unis d’Amérique) à partir du 36Cl des eaux souterraines et des amas fossiles de débris laissés par des rats.

Pruebas de las edades 14C y comportamiento conservativo del 14C disuelto en un acuífero carbonático en Yucca Flat, Nevada (EEUU), usando 36Cl de agua subterránea y madrigueras de ratas

利用 地下水和堆肥中的 36Cl测定(美国)内华达州Yucca Flat地区碳酸盐含水层中14C年龄和溶解14C的持恒行为

Testando as idades de 14C e o comportamento conservativo do 14C dissolvido num aquífero carbonatado em Yucca Flat, Nevada (EUA), usando o 36Cl da água subterrânea e depósitos de acumulação de detritos criados por ratos

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Abstract

Corrected groundwater 14C ages from the carbonate aquifer in Yucca Flat at the former Nevada Test Site (now the Nevada National Security Site), USA, were evaluated by comparing temporal variations of groundwater 36Cl/Cl estimated with these 14C ages with published records of meteoric 36Cl/Cl variations preserved in packrat middens (piles of plant fragments, fecal matter and urine). Good agreement between these records indicates that the groundwater 14C ages are reasonable and that 14C is moving with chloride without sorbing to the carbonate rock matrix or fracture coatings, despite opposing evidence from laboratory experiments. The groundwater 14C ages are consistent with other hydrologic evidence that indicates significant basin infiltration ceased 8,000 to 10,000 years ago, and that recharge to the carbonate aquifer is from paleowater draining through overlying tuff confining units along major faults. This interpretation is supported by the relative age differences as well as hydraulic head differences between the alluvial and volcanic aquifers and the carbonate aquifer. The carbonate aquifer 14C ages suggest that groundwater velocities throughout much of Yucca Flat are about 2 m/yr, consistent with the long-held conceptual model that blocking ridges of low-permeability rock hydrologically isolate the carbonate aquifer in Yucca Flat from the outlying regional carbonate flow system.

Résumé

Les âges corrigés des eaux souterraines au 14C d’un aquifère carbonaté du Yucca Flat sur l’ancien site test du Nevada (actuellement le site national de la sécurité du Nevada), Etats Unis d’Amérique, ont été évalués en comparant les variations temporelles des rapports estimés de 36Cl/Cl des eaux souterraines avec celles des âges au 14C avec les données publiées dans les enregistrements météoriques des variations de 36Cl/Cl préservées dans les amas fossiles de débris laissés par des rats (amas de fragments de plantes, de matière fécale et d’urine). Un bon accord entre ces enregistrements indique que l’âge des eaux souterraines au 14C est raisonnable et que le 14C se déplace avec les chlorures sans sorption sur la matrice carbonatée de la roche ou sur les minéralisations carbonatées des fractures, malgré des résultats opposés sur des expérimentations en laboratoire. Les âges des eaux souterraines au 14C sont compatibles avec les autres évidences hydrologiques qui indiquent que l’importante infiltration du bassin a cessé il y a entre 8,000 et 10,000 ans et que la recharge de l’aquifère carbonaté est issue d’un drainage d’eaux anciennes au travers de formations peu perméables de tuf le long des principales failles. Cette interprétation est étayée par les différents âges relatifs ainsi que par les différences de charge hydraulique entre les aquifères alluviaux et volcaniques et l’aquifère carbonaté. Les âges au 14C de l’aquifère carbonate suggèrent que les vitesses des eaux souterraines dans une grande partie du Yucca Flat sont environ de 2m/an, ce qui est compatible avec le modèle conceptuel de longue date, qui stipule que les secteurs de faible perméabilité isolent du point de vue hydrogéologique l’aquifère carbonaté du Yucca Flat du système d’écoulement régional périphérique au sein des carbonates.

Resumen

Se evaluaron las edades 14C del agua subterránea corregidas del acuífero carbonático en el antiguo Nevada Test Site (actualmente el Nevada National Security Site), EEUU, comparando las variaciones temporales de 36Cl/Cl del agua subterránea estimados con estas edades 14C con registros publicados de variaciones meteóricas de 36Cl/Cl preservadas en madrigueras de ratas (pilas de fragmentos de plantas, materia fecal y orina). La buena concordancia entre estos registros indica que las edades 14C del agua subterránea son razonables y que el 14C se está moviendo con el cloruro sin sorción a la matriz de roca carbonática o cubiertas de fracturas, a pesar de la evidencia opuesta de los experimentos de laboratorio. Las edades 14C del agua subterránea son consistentes con otra evidencia hidrológica que indican una infiltración significativa en la cuenca que cesó 8,000 a 10,000 años atrás, y que la recarga al acuífero carbonático es a partir de paleoaguas que drenan a través de unidades confinantes suprayacentes de tufa a lo largo de las fallas principales. Esta interpretación está apoyada por las diferencias de edad relativa, así como por las diferencias de carga hidráulica entre los acuíferos aluvial y volcánico y el acuífero carbonático. Las edades 14C del acuífero carbonático sugieren que las velocidades del agua a través de la mayor parte del Yucca Flat son de alrededor de 2 m/yr, consistentes con el modelo conceptual largamente sostenido donde las crestas bloqueantes de de baja permeabilidad aislan hidrológicamente en el acuífero carbonático en el Yucca Flat del flujo del sistema regional carbonático periférico.

摘要

通过对采用14C年龄估测的地下水中 36Cl/Cl时间变化与保留在堆肥(植物碎屑、粪便物和尿)中的大气36Cl/Cl变化研究成果对比,评估了美国前内华达州试验场Yucca Flat地区碳酸盐含水层修正的地下水14C年龄。这些记录良好一致性表明,地下水14C年龄是合理的,尽管与实验室试验获取的证据相反,但14C与氯化物运移时并没有吸附到碳酸盐岩体或断裂表层。地下水14C年龄与其它水文证据一致,这些证据包括重要的盆地入渗停止于8000到10000年前,沿主要断裂通过上覆的凝灰岩承压单元排出的古水对碳酸盐含水层的补给。这种解释得到冲积、火山岩含水层与碳酸岩含水层之间的相对年龄差异及水头差异的支持。碳酸盐含水层14C年龄显示,Yucca Flat地区大部分区域地下水的速度每年大约为2 米,这与低透水性岩石的封堵山脊水文上分隔Yucca Flat地区碳酸盐含水层与边远的区域碳酸盐含水层长期公认的概念模型一致。

Resumo

As idades corrigidas de 14C da água subterrânea do aquífero carbonatado em Yucca Flat, no antigo local de testes de Nevada (agora Sítio Nacional de Segurança do Nevada – Nevada National Security Site), EUA, foram avaliadas por comparação das variações temporais de 36Cl/Cl estimadas nas águas subterrâneas com aquelas idades 14C com registos publicados das variações meteóricas de 36Cl/Cl preservadas em detritos acumulados por ratos (pilhas de fragmentos de plantas, matéria fecal e urina). Uma boa correlação entre estes registos indica que as idades 14C da água subterrânea são razoáveis e que o 14C se move com o cloreto sem absorver o carbonato da matriz rochosa ou da cobertura das paredes das fraturas, apesar da evidência em contrário das experiências laboratoriais. As idades 14C das águas subterrâneas são consistentes com outras evidências hidrológicas que indicam que as significativas infiltrações na bacia cessaram 8,000 a 10,000 anos atrás, e que a recarga para o aquífero carbonatado provém de paleoágua que drena através dos tufos das unidades confinantes superiores ao longo de falhas principais. Esta interpretação é suportada pelas diferentes idades relativas, bem como pelas diferenças de potencial hidráulico entre os aquíferos aluviais e vulcânicos e o aquífero carbonatado. As idades 14C do aquífero carbonatado sugerem que as velocidades da água subterrânea através da maior parte do Yucca Flat são de cerca de 2 m/ano, consistentes com o modelo concetual aceite há já muito tempo, que considera que cristas rochosas de baixa permeabilidade bloqueiam e isolam hidrogeologicamente o aquífero carbonatado em Yucca Flat do sistema de fluxo regional carbonatado em redor desta área.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Bill Wilborn, Underground Test Area (UGTA) Project Manager, and the US Department of Energy Nevada Field Office for funding this study.

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  1. Los Alamos National Laboratory, P. O. Box 1163, Drop Pt. 19U, MS T003, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA

    Edward Kwicklis

  2. Navarro-Intera, LLC, 232 Energy Way, North Las Vegas, NV, 89030, USA

    Irene Farnham

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Correspondence to Edward Kwicklis.

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Kwicklis, E., Farnham, I. Testing the 14C ages and conservative behavior of dissolved 14C in a carbonate aquifer in Yucca Flat, Nevada (USA), using 36Cl from groundwater and packrat middens. Hydrogeol J 22, 1359–1381 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-014-1131-3

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