Hostname: page-component-5c6d5d7d68-vt8vv Total loading time: 0.001 Render date: 2024-08-19T08:16:39.517Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Assessment of Reducing Conditions at Depth in Granitic Rock

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2011

Peter Wikberg*
Affiliation:
Department of Inorganic Chemistry, The Royal Institute of Technology, KTH, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
Get access

Abstract

Deep groundwaters from sites potentially suitable for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel have been chemically characterized. The waters are classified according to their contents of main constituents and pH as shallow or deep groundwaters. New equipment consisting of a mobile field laboratory and downhole pH and Eh probes has been successfully used in the investigations.

The deep groundwaters contain appreciable amounts of iron and sulphide and Eh values monitored downhole are more negative than those obtained from calculations based on the ferrous iron ferric hydroxide system. Laboratory simulations of the water rock interaction indicate that the dissolved oxygen is quickly removed when the water is in contact with the rock.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1985

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Final Storage of Spent Nuclear Fuel - KBS-3, (SKBF/KBS Part I-IV, Stockholm 1983)Google Scholar
2. Fritz, P. and Frape, S.K., “Saline Groundwaters in the Canadian Shield”, Chem. Geol., 36, 179 (1982)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3. Jacks, Gunnar, “Ground Water Chemistry at depth in granites and gneisaes”, KBS TR 88, Stockholm 1978 Google Scholar
4. Jacks, Gunnar, “Chemistry of some groundwaters in igneous rocks”, Nord. Hydrol., 4, 207 (1973)Google Scholar
5. Champ, D.R., Gulens, J. and Jackson, R.E., “Oxidation-Reduction Sequences in Groundwater flow Systems”, Can. J. Earth Sci., 16, 12 (1979)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6. Edmunds, W.M., Miles, D.L. and Cook, J.M., “A comparative Study of sequential Redox Processes in Three British Aquiferes from the United Kingdom”, in Proceedings of the Uppsala Symposium on Hydrochemical Balances of Freshwater Systems 1984., Ed. Erik, Eriksen. IAHS-AISH Publication No.150.Google Scholar
7. Stumm, W. and Morgan, J., Aquatic Chemistry, 2nd ed,(John Wiley & Sons, New York 1981)Google Scholar
8. Wikberg, P., Grenthe, I. and Axelsen, K., “Redox conditions in groundwaters from Svartboberget, Gideå, Fjällveden and Kamlunge”, KBS TR 83−40, (SKBF/KBS Stockholm 1983)Google Scholar
9. Jantzen, Carol M., “Methods of Simulating low Redox Potential (Eh) for a Basalt Repository”, Mat. Res. Symp. Proc., 26, 613 (1984)Google Scholar
10. Neretnieks, Ivars, “Some Uses for Natural Analogues in Assessing the Function of a HLW Repository” in Natural Analogues to the Conditions around a final Repository for high-level radioactive Waste. Proceedings of a workshop held at lake Geneva, Visconcin, USA October 1–3, 1984. Ed. Smellie, John. KBS TR 84−18 (SKB, Stockholm 1985)Google Scholar
11. Lindberg, R. and Runnels, D., “Ground Water Redox Reactions”, Science, 225, 925 (1984)CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed