Hostname: page-component-5c6d5d7d68-ckgrl Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-08-19T21:22:10.322Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

14C Dating of Groundwater Containing Microbial CH4

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

K. C. Hackley ,
C. L. Liu  and
D. D. Coleman
K. C. Hackley
Affiliation:
Illinois State Geological Survey, Champaign, Illinois 61820 USA
C. L. Liu
Affiliation:
Illinois State Geological Survey, Champaign, Illinois 61820 USA
D. D. Coleman
Affiliation:
Illinois State Geological Survey, Champaign, Illinois 61820 USA
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Groundwater samples were collected from several different depths in Illinois glacial deposits at a site in east-central Illinois. Dissolved gases were extracted from many of the water samples, measured volumetrically, and analyze by gas chromatography. The DIC was precipitated as barium carbonate and analyzed for both δ13C and 14C. Due to the formation of microbial CH4, some of the DIC had unusually heavy δ13C values of −3 to −1‰. The standard groundwate 14C-age correction models were developed to account for carbonate dissolution as the primary carbon input beneath the soil zone. If the heavy δ13C values observed in this study are used in readily available groundwater dating models without accounting for the effect of microbial methane formation, many of the resultant calculated ages are negaitive (future ages) mathematically unsolvable. Isotopic and analytical result show a positive correlation (r2 = 0.90) between the δ13C of the DIC and the concentration of methane in the groundwater. With this correlation, we were able to correct the δ13C values of the DIC which were altered due to microbial CH4 formation. This adjustment of δ13C values, along with estimation of dead carbon input from the redox processes, allowed us to calculate 14C ages using standard groundwater age correction models.

Type
II. Applied Isotope Geochemistry
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 34 , Issue 3: Proceedings of the 14th International Radiocarbon Conference , 1992 , pp. 686 - 695
Copyright
Copyright © The American Journal of Science 

References

Barker, J. F. and Fritz, P. 1981 The occurrence and origin of methane in some groundwater flow systems. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 18: 1802–1816.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barker, J. F., Fritz, P. and Brown, R. M. 1979 Carbon-14 measurements in aquifers with methane. Isotope Hydrology 1978, Proceedings of a Symposium IAEA-SM-228/33. IAEA: 661–678.Google Scholar
Battelle, 1990a Geological and geotechnical investigations. In Alternative Site Investigation Studies Clark County, Illinois, Vol. II. Battelle Memorial Institute and Hanson Engineers, Inc., Springfield, Illinois.Google Scholar
Battelle, 1990b Hydrological Investigations. In Alternative Site Investigation Studies Clark County, Illinois, Vol. III. Battelle Memorial Institute and Hanson Engineers, Inc., Springfield, Illinois.Google Scholar
Coleman, D. D., Liu, C. L. and Riley, K. M. 1988 Microbial methane in the shallow paleozoic sediments and glacial deposits of Illinois, USA. Chemical Geology 71: 23–40.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Curry, B. B., Berg, R. C. and Cartwright, M. R. T. 1990 Quaternary geology of the Martinsville Alternative Site, Clark County, Illinois. Illinois State Geological Survey Open File Report. Google Scholar
Fontes, J. C. and Garnier, J. M. 1979 Determination of the initial 14C activity of the total dissolved carbon: A review of the existing models and a new approach. Water Resources Research 15(2): 399–413.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fritz, P., Mozeto, A. A. and Reardon, E. J. 1985 Practical considerations on carbon isotope studies on soil carbon dioxide. Chemical Geology (Isotope Geoscience Section) 58: 89–95.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gautier, D. L., Kharaka, Y. K. and Surdam, R. C. 1985 Relationship of organic matter and mineral diagenesis. SEPM Short Course No. 17: 56–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Geyh, M. A. and Wagner, R. H. (ms.) 1979 Guideline for groundwater sampling for isotope analyses. Unpublished laboratory notes, 14C and 3H-Laboratory, Niedersächsische Landesamt für Bodenforschung, Hannover, Germany.Google Scholar
Grossman, E. L., Coffman, K. B., Fritz, S. J. and Wada, H. 1989 Bacterial production of methane and its influence on groundwater chemistry in east-central Texas aquifers. Geology 17: 495–499.2.3.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hackley, K. C. and Liu, C. L. (ms.) Influence of microbial methane formation on δ13C and radiocarbon age of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in groundwater. Unpublished manuscript.Google Scholar
Ingerson, E. and Pearson, F. J. 1964 Estimation of age and rate of motion of groundwater by the 14C-method. In Recent Research in the Fields of Hydrosphere, Atmosphere and Nuclear Geochemistry. Tokyo, Maruzen: 263–283.Google Scholar
Rayleigh, J. W. S. 1896 Theoretical considerations respecting the separation of gases by diffusion and similar processes. Philosophical Magazine 42: 493–498.Google Scholar
Schoell, M. 1980 The hydrogen and carbon isotopic composition of methane from natural gases of various origin. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 44: 649–661.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tamers, M. A. 1967 Surface-water infiltration and groundwater movement in arid zones of Venezuela. In Isotopes in Hydrology. IAEA, Vienna: 339–351.Google Scholar
Tamers, M. A. 1975 Validity of radiocarbon dates on groundwater. Geophysical Survey 2: 217–239.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Whiticar, M. J., Faber, E. and Schoell, M. 1986 Biogenic methane formation in marine and freshwater environments: CO2 reduction vs. acetate formation –Isotope evidence. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 50: 693–709.CrossRefGoogle Scholar