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Author Uugulu, S.; Wanke, H.
Title Estimation of groundwater recharge in savannah aquifers along a precipitation gradient using chloride mass balance method and environmental isotopes, Namibia Type Journal Article
Year 2020 Publication Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C Abbreviated Journal
Volume 116 Issue Pages (up) 102844
Keywords Chloride mass balance, Groundwater recharge, Isotopic values, Precipitation gradient
Abstract The quantification of groundwater resources is essential especially in water scarce countries like Namibia. The chloride mass balance (CMB) method and isotopic composition were used in determining groundwater recharge along a precipitation gradient at three sites, namely: Tsumeb (600 mm/a precipitation); Waterberg (450 mm/a precipitation) and Kuzikus/Ebenhaezer (240 mm/a precipitation). Groundwater and rainwater were collected from year 2016–2017. Rainwater was collected monthly while groundwater was collected before, during and after rainy seasons. Rainwater isotopic values for δ18O and δ2H range from −10.70 to 6.10‰ and from −72.7 to 42.1‰ respectively. Groundwater isotopic values for δ18O range from −9.84 to −5.35‰ for Tsumeb; from −10.85 to −8.60‰ for Waterberg and from −8.24 to −1.56‰ for Kuzikus/Ebenhaezer, while that for δ2H range from −65.6 to −46.7‰ for Tsumeb; −69.4 to −61.2‰ for Waterberg and −54.2 to −22.7‰ for Kuzikus/Ebenhaezer. Rainwater scatters along the GMWL. Rainwater collected in January, February and March are more depleted in heavy isotopes than those in November, December, April and May. Waterberg groundwater plots on the GMWL which indicates absence of evaporation. Tsumeb groundwater plots on/close to the GMWL with an exception of groundwater from the karst Lake Otjikoto which is showing evaporation. Groundwater from Kuzikus/Ebenhaezer shows an evaporation effect, probably evaporation occurs during infiltration since it is observed in all sampling seasons. All groundwater from three sites plot in the same area with rainwater depleted in stable isotopic values, which could indicates that recharge only take place during January, February and March. CMB method revealed that Waterberg has the highest recharge rate ranging between 39.1 mm/a and 51.1 mm/a (8.7% – 11.4% of annual precipitation), Tsumeb with rates ranging from 21.1 mm/a to 48.5 mm/a (3.5% – 8.1% of annual precipitation), and lastly Kuzikus/Ebenhaezer from 3.2 mm/a to 17.5 mm/a (1.4% – 7.3% of annual precipitation). High recharge rates in Waterberg could be related to fast infiltration and absence of evaporation as indicated by the isotopic ratios. Differences in recharge rates cannot only be attributed to the precipitation gradient but also to the evaporation rates and the presence of preferential flow paths. Recharge rates estimated for these three sites can be used in managing the savannah aquifers especially at Kuzikus/Ebenhaezer where evaporation effect is observed that one can consider rain harvesting.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 1474-7065 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number THL @ christoph.kuells @ uugulu_estimation_2020 Serial 99
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Author Su, X.; Liu, Z.; Yao, Y.; Du, Z.
Title Petrology, mineralogy, and ore leaching of sandstone-hosted uranium deposits in the Ordos Basin, North China Type Journal Article
Year 2020 Publication Ore Geology Reviews Abbreviated Journal
Volume 127 Issue Pages (up) 103768
Keywords Geochemical composition, leach mining, Mineralogy, Ordos Basin, Sandstone-hosted uranium deposit
Abstract The Nalinggou–Daying uranium metallogenic belt is situated at the northern Ordos Basin, China. Petrographical, mineralogical and geochemical techniques were used to study the ore-bearing sandstones and host rocks in the Nalinggou–Daying uranium metallogenic belt. The present study shows that uranium minerals, i.e., coffinite, pitchblende, and brannerite, are mostly disseminated around pyrite and detrital particles. The ore-bearing sandstones are enriched in organic matter, with which this reductive environment influenced uranium leaching. The carbonate concentration of the uranium ores is markedly higher than that of the host rocks, and intense carbonatization occurs in the ore-bearing sandstones. In this case, the usage of the classical in-situ leach uranium mining technique by injecting H2SO4 + H2O2 solution produces calcium sulfate precipitate, which can lead to blocking of the ore-bearing strata. For this reason, laboratory and field uranium mining tests were conducted using CO2 + O2 in-situ leaching technology and were demonstrated to be successful, illustrating that this approach is technically feasible. Inhibiting ore bed blockage and increasing the amount of injected O2 are important for uranium leaching in this setting.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0169-1368 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number THL @ christoph.kuells @ su_petrology_2020 Serial 120
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Author Christofi, C.; Bruggeman, A.; Külls, C.; Constantinou, C.
Title Hydrochemical evolution of groundwater in gabbro of the Troodos Fractured Aquifer. A comprehensive approach Type Journal Article
Year 2020 Publication Applied Geochemistry Abbreviated Journal
Volume 114 Issue Pages (up) 104524
Keywords geochemistry
Abstract
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Pergamon Place of Publication Editor
Language English Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number THL @ christoph.kuells @ Christofi2020hydrochemical Serial 13
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Author Gardiner, J.; Thomas, R.B.; Phan, T.T.; Stuckman, M.; Wang, J.; Small, M.; Lopano, C.; Hakala, J.A.
Title Utilization of produced water baseline as a groundwater monitoring tool at a CO2-EOR site in the Permian Basin, Texas, USA Type Journal Article
Year 2020 Publication Applied Geochemistry Abbreviated Journal
Volume 121 Issue Pages (up) 104688
Keywords CO storage, Enhanced oil recovery, Geochemical baseline, Groundwater monitoring, Produced water, Solubility trapping
Abstract Carbon dioxide (CO2) enhanced oil recovery (EOR) provides a pathway for economic reuse and storage of CO2, a greenhouse gas. One challenge with this practice is ensuring CO2 injection does not result in target reservoir fluids migrating into overlying shallow (\textless1000 m) groundwater formations. Effective monitoring for leakage from storage formations could involve measuring sensitive chemical indicators in overlying groundwater units and within the producing formation itself for evidence of deviation from an initial state. In this study, produced waters and overlying groundwaters were monitored over a five-year period to evaluate which geochemical signals may be useful to ensure that oilfield produced waters did not impact overlying groundwaters. During this five-year period, a mature carbonate oil reservoir in the Permian Basin transitioned from a waterflooding operation to a water-alternating-gas injection (WAG), in which the formation was flooded with CO2 and various mixtures of produced water. Significant increases in dissolved inorganic constituents [alkalinity, TDS, Na+, Cl−, SO42−] were observed in produced waters following CO2 injection; however, carbonate reservoir dissolution-precipitation reactions appear to be minimal and injected CO2 appears to be stored via solubility trapping. Although there are statistically significant geochemical variations following CO2 injection, applying isometric log-ratios to certain parameters establishes a narrow range for post-CO2 injection produced waters. This narrow range can be considered a baseline for post-CO2 injection produced waters; this baseline can be utilized to monitor overlying local groundwaters for produced water intrusion. Additionally, certain parameters [Na+, Ca2+, K+, Cl−, alkalinity, and TDS] display large concentration disparities between produced water and overlying groundwaters; these parameters would be sensitive indicators of produced water intrusion into overlying groundwaters.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0883-2927 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number THL @ christoph.kuells @ gardiner_utilization_2020 Serial 171
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Author Christofi, C.; Bruggeman, A.; Külls, C.; Constantinou, C.
Title Isotope hydrology and hydrogeochemical modeling of Troodos Fractured Aquifer, Cyprus: The development of hydrogeological descriptions of observed water types Type Journal Article
Year 2020 Publication Applied Geochemistry Abbreviated Journal
Volume 123 Issue Pages (up) 104780
Keywords Isotope hydrology, Hydrogeochemical modelling, Hydrochemistry, Kargiotis, Troodos
Abstract The origin of groundwater recharge and subsequent flow paths are often difficult to establish in fractured, multi-lithological, and highly compartmentalized aquifers such as the Troodos Fractured Aquifer (TFA). As the conjunctive use of stable isotopes and hydrogeochemical data provides additional information, we established a monitoring network for stable isotopes in precipitation in Cyprus. The local meteoric water line, altitude effect and seasonal variation of stable isotopes in precipitation are derived from monitoring data. Stable isotopes and hydrogeochemical data are combined to model water-rock interactions and groundwater evolution along a complete ophiolite sequence. As a result a generic hydrogeologic description for the observed water types is developed. Isotope hydrology was applied in conjunction with hydrogeochemical modelling in Kargiotis Watershed, a major north-south transect of the TFA. PHREEQC was used for hydrogeochemical modelling to establish generic descriptions for observed water types. Mean precipitation-weighted values from 16 monitoring stations were used to calculate the Local Meteoric Water Line (LMWL), which was found to be equal to δ2H = (6.58 ± 0.13)*δ18O + (12.64 ± 0.91). A general decrease of 1.22‰ for δ2H and 0.20‰ for δ18O in precipitation was calculated per 100 m altitude. A generic groundwater evolution path was established: 1. Na/MgClHCO3, 2. MgHCO3, 3. Ca/MgHCO3, 4. Ca/MgNaHCO3, 4a. MgNa/CaHCO3/Cl, 5. NaMg/CaHCO3/Cl, 6. NaHCO3, 7. Na/MgHCO3SO4, 8. NaSO4Cl/HCO3. Hydrogeologic descriptions, consisting of groundwater origin, flow path and possible active water-rock processes, have been realised for the observed water types. The first two water types occur in serpentine and ultramafic-gabbro springs. Type 3 waters represent early stages of recharge and/or short flow paths, in gabbro whereas types 4 and 5 are typical for further percolating waters in gabbro and diabase. Water types 6 and 7 occur both in diabase and in the basal group and represent the regional flow. Water type 8 is the end member of regional, upwelling groundwater in the basal group. The presented descriptions and methods have practical applications in groundwater exploration, characterization, and protection. The methodology can be applied in other complex aquifer systems.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language english Summary Language english Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0883-2927 ISBN Medium
Area Cyprus Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number THL @ christoph.kuells @ Christofi2020104780 Serial 76
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Author Zhou, Y.; Li, G.; Xu, L.; Liu, J.; Sun, Z.; Shi, W.
Title Uranium recovery from sandstone-type uranium deposit by acid in-situ leaching – an example from the Kujieertai Type Journal Article
Year 2020 Publication Hydrometallurgy Abbreviated Journal
Volume 191 Issue Pages (up) 105209
Keywords Acid in-situ leaching, Sandstone-type uranium deposit, Uranium deportment in the ore, Uranium recovery, Water-rock interaction
Abstract The factors influencing uranium recovery in water-rock systems during acid in-situ leaching (ISL) were studied at the Kujieertai uranium deposit in Xinjiang. Using an ISL unit, a field leach trial (FLT) had been carried out to test the sequential effects of a leaching solution without oxidant (H2SO4 solution 4–8 g/L) and a leaching solution with oxidant (H2SO4 3–7 g/L, and Fe (III) 2–6 g/L). The observation of the leaching process revealed clearly defined stages of uranium release from the solid mineral to solution. Uranium mobilization from solid mineral into solution can be described in four stages. At the beginning of the acid ISL process, there was no oxidant to be added to the leaching solution and the desorption of hexavalent uranyl ions in the open pores, as well as dissolution of hexavalent uranium minerals, led to a short-term peak in the pregnant solution, which happened while pH decreased from about 5.3 to 2.62. Following the depletion of the adsorbed hexavalent uranium and a decline in uranium dissolution intensity, the addition of Fe(III) facilitated the oxidation of tetravalent uranium, which enabled intensive uranium mobilization again. During this process, the dissolution of uranium had a strong positive correlation with the reduction of Fe(III) and Eh in the leach solution. Beside hydrochemical factors, the deportment of uranium was also an important factor affecting uranium recovery. Uranium located in the open pores can be completely exposed to the solution and the mobilization intensity was significantly affected by hydrogeochemical conditions; but the uranium present in microfissures and in the ore matrix could not be fully exposed to the solution, so, their dissolution intensity was primarily controlled by corrosion and permeability of the ore. In general, the hydrogeochemical conditions and the deportment of uranium were the external and internal factors that significantly affected the dissolution and recovery of uranium in the early and middle stages of the FLT. However, in the latest stages, due to uranium depletion, enhancing the chemical potential of the leaching solution, specifically acidity and/or the amount of oxidant, had little improvement on uranium recovery.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0304-386x ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number THL @ christoph.kuells @ zhou_uranium_2020 Serial 205
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Author Robin, V.; Beaufort, D.; Tertre, E.; Reinholdt, M.; Fromaget, M.; Forestier, S.; Boissezon, H. de; Descostes, M.
Title Fate of dioctahedral smectites in uranium roll front deposits exploited by acidic In Situ Recovery (ISR) solutions Type Journal Article
Year 2020 Publication Applied Clay Science Abbreviated Journal
Volume 187 Issue Pages (up) 105484
Keywords Dissolution, In situ recovery, Ion exchange, Post mining, Remediation, Smectite
Abstract In Situ Recovery (ISR) is the most important process of uranium production in the world (50%). It consists of an injection of a leaching solution into a permeable mineralized aquifer (sandstone), pumping of the solution after dissolution of the ore minerals and recovery of the uranium from the pregnant solution in a surface plant. In this context, the fate of swelling clay minerals such as smectites is of main importance due to their role in the mobility of cationic elements by diverse geochemical processes such as ion-exchange reactions or dissolution. The present study details analysis of dioctahedral smectites before and after in-situ leaching by acidic (H2SO4) ISR solutions. Samples were collected from two sedimentary basins hosting some of the main uranium roll front deposits exploited by acidic ISR (Tortkuduk deposit, Shu-Saryssu basin, Kazakhstan, and Dulaan Uul and Zoovch Ovoo deposits, Sainshand basin, Mongolia). Scanning Electron Microscope and X-Ray Diffraction analysis revealed that dioctahedral smectite is a ubiquitous mineral in all analyzed samples, before and after acidification, and revealed a difference of crystal chemistry of the smectites between deposits of Kazakhstan (beidellite type) and Mongolia (montmorillonite type). Chemical analysis and semi-quantification of the smectites before and after acidification also revealed a difference in chemical reactivity, with a higher dissolution of montmorillonite layers compared to beidellite ones, and the importance of ion-exchange reactions. These findings are consistent with literature data obtained on model systems. The persistence of dioctahedral smectites after several years of acidification is crucial for the understanding of geochemical processes during uranium production or remediation of the aquifers. Finally, based on the analysis of samples from U-deposits hosted in both sedimentary basins, a schematic model of the impact of acid solutions on dioctahedral smectite was proposed.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0169-1317 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number THL @ christoph.kuells @ robin_fate_2020 Serial 179
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Author Belz, L.; Schüller, I.; Wehrmann, A.; Köster, J.; Wilkes, H.
Title The leaf wax biomarker record of a Namibian salt pan reveals enhanced summer rainfall during the Last Glacial-Interglacial Transition Type Journal Article
Year 2020 Publication Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology Abbreviated Journal
Volume 543 Issue Pages (up) 109561
Keywords -Alkanes, -Alkanols, Late Quaternary, Organic geochemistry, Palaeohydrology, Southern Africa
Abstract Conventional continental geoarchives are rarely available in arid southern Africa. Therefore, palaeoclimate data in this area are still patchy and late Quaternary climate development is only poorly understood. In the western Kalahari, salt pans (playas, ephemeral lakes) are common and can feature quasi-continuous sedimentation. This study presents the first climate-related biomarker record using sediments from the Omongwa Pan, a Kalahari salt pan located in eastern Namibia. Our approach to reconstruct vegetation and hydrology focuses on biogeochemical bulk parameters and plant wax-derived lipid biomarkers (n-alkanes, n-alkanols, and fatty acids) and their compound-specific carbon and hydrogen isotopic compositions. The presented record reaches back to 27 ka. During the glacial, rather low δ2H values of n-alkanes and low sediment input exclude a strong influence of winter rainfall. n-Alkane and n-alkanol distributions and δ13C values of n-hentriacontane (n-C31) indicate a shift to a vegetation with a higher proportion of C4 plants at the end of the Last Glacial Maximum until the end of Heinrich Stadial I (ca. 18–14.8 ka), which we interpret to indicate an abrupt excursion to a short wetter period likely to be caused by a temporary southward shift of the Intertropical Convergence Zone. Shifts in δ2H values of n-C31 and plant wax parameters give evidence for changes to drier conditions during early Holocene. Comparison of this dataset with representative continental records from the region points to a major influence of summer rainfall at Omongwa Pan during the regarded time span and demonstrates the potential of southern African salt pans as archives for biomarker-based climate proxies.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0031-0182 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number THL @ christoph.kuells @ belz_leaf_2020 Serial 104
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Author Pree, T.A.D.
Title The politics of baselining in the Grants uranium mining district of northwestern New Mexico Type Journal Article
Year 2020 Publication Journal of Environmental Management Abbreviated Journal
Volume 268 Issue Pages (up) 110601
Keywords Critical stakeholder analysis, Environmental cleanup, Environmental monitoring, Mining reclamation/remediation/restoration, Politics of baselining
Abstract During the second half of the twentieth century, northwestern New Mexico served as the primary production site for one of the world’s largest nuclear arsenals. From 1948 to 1970 the “Grants uranium district” provided almost half of the total uranium ore accumulated by the United States federal government for the production of nuclear weapons, in addition to becoming a national source for commercial nuclear energy from the late 1960s to the early 1990s. By the twenty-first century, after a prolonged period of economic decline that began in the late 1970s, all uranium mining and milling in New Mexico had ceased, leaving a legacy of environmental health impacts. What was once referred to as “The Uranium Capital of the World” now encompasses over a thousand abandoned uranium mines and seven massive uranium mill tailings piles, which are associated with airborne and soil contamination as well as groundwater plumes of uranium and other contaminants of concern, in a landscape that has been fractured by underground mine workings and punctured by thousands of exploratory boreholes. This article presents an ethnographic study of the diverse forms of expertise involved in monitoring and managing the mine waste and mill tailings. Drawing from over two years of ethnographic research, I describe the relationship between different stakeholders from local communities, government agencies, and transnational mining corporations as they deliberate about the possibility of cleaning up the former mining district. My thesis is that the possibility of cleaning up the Grants district hinges on the “politics of baselining”—a term I introduce to describe the relationship between stakeholders and their competing environmental models and hydrogeological theories; each accounts for a different geological past prior to mining that can be deemed “natural,” as the background against which to measure the anthropogenic impacts from mining.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0301-4797 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number THL @ christoph.kuells @ pree_politics_2020 Serial 151
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Author Jamali, B.; Bach, P.M.; Deletic, A.
Title Rainwater harvesting for urban flood management – An integrated modelling framework Type Journal Article
Year 2020 Publication Water Research Abbreviated Journal
Volume 171 Issue Pages (up) 115372
Keywords Rainwater harvesting tanks, Urban flood simulation, Rapid flood inundation model, Urban flood risk mitigation
Abstract It is well known that rainwater harvesting (RWH) can augment water supply and reduce stormwater pollutant discharges. Due to the lack of continuous 2D modelling of urban flood coverage and its associated damage, the ability of RWH to reduce urban flood risks has not been fully evaluated. Literature suggests that small distributed storage spaces using RWH tanks will reduce flood damage only during small to medium flooding events and therefore cumulative assessment of their benefits is needed. In this study we developed a new integrated modelling framework that implements a semi-continuous simulation approach to investigate flood prevention and water supply benefits of RWH tanks. The framework includes a continuous mass balance simulation model that considers antecedent rainfall conditions and water demand/usage of tanks and predicts the available storage prior to each storm event. To do so, this model couples a rainfall-runoff tank storage model with a detailed stochastic end-use water demand model. The available storage capacity of tanks is then used as a boundary condition for the novel rapid flood simulation model. This flood model was developed by coupling the U.S. EPA Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) to the Cellular-Automata Fast Flood Evaluation (CA-ffé) model to predict the inundation depth caused by surcharges over the capacity of the drainage network. The stage-depth damage curves method was used to calculate time series of flood damage, which are then directly used for flood risk and cost-benefit analysis. The model was tested through a case study in Melbourne, using a recorded rainfall time series of 85 years (after validating the flood model against 1D-2D MIKE-FLOOD). Results showed that extensive implementation of RWH tanks in the study area is economically feasible and can reduce expected annual damage in the catchment by up to approximately 30 percent. Availability of storage space and temporal distribution of rainfall within an event were important factors affecting tank performance for flood reduction.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Summary Language Original Title
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0043-1354 ISBN Medium
Area Expedition Conference
Notes Approved no
Call Number THL @ christoph.kuells @ Jamali2020115372 Serial 239
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