Journal
GEOCHEMISTRY-EXPLORATION ENVIRONMENT ANALYSIS
Volume 18, Issue 2, Pages 155-174Publisher
GEOLOGICAL SOC PUBL HOUSE
DOI: 10.1144/geochem2017-072
Keywords
Brine; gas wells; groundwater; hydrochemistry; stable isotopes; sulphate; tritium; Appalachian Basin
Categories
Funding
- Ontario Geological Survey
- NSERC Discovery Grants
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Groundwaters with total dissolved solids up to 9.5 g/1 occur at depths of < 50 m in the Paleozoic strata of the Niagara Peninsula. Major ions and trace elements are 1.5-40 times higher than in the same strata elsewhere in Ontario. The delta O-18 and delta H-2 values (delta(OH2O)-O-18 = -6.9%o to -15%o; delta H-2(H2o) = -49.4%o to -105%o) of groundwater suggest that meteoric precipitation is the primary source with a small portion recharged during Pleistocene glaciation. Tritium (up to 17.42 TU) and coliform bacteria (up to 600 counts/100 ml) data indicate groundwater is generally recently recharged and undergoes a series of modifications that progressively increase salinity. Elemental concentrations and delta S-34 of dissolved sulphate (delta S-34(so4) = +5% to + 45%) indicate that the salinization is due to multiple processes: (1) road salt inputs into shallow groundwater, (2) upward flow of basinal brines that mix with meteoric groundwater, (3) gypsum and anhydrite dissolution, and (4) sulphide oxidation of minor metallic sulphide minerals. Comparison with water from flowing abandoned gas wells suggests some are acting as conduits allowing upward flow of deeper (Appalachian Basin) brines. The distribution of brine-impacted wells suggests natural vertical pathways also contribute to upward transport and mixing of brine.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available