Chemical composition of ground water in the Yucca Mountain area, Nevada, 1971-84

Groundwater chemistry at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, and vicinity

“…Compositions of water from these wells have been reported primarily by Benson et al (1983), Ogard and Kerrisk (1984), and Benson and McKinley (1985). Table I lists the 15 wells from Yucca Mountain and vicinity that were reviewed as part of this report.…”

“…Because of its short half-life (12.3 yr), water isolated from atmospheric sources of tritium would not contain measurable levels after about 100 yr. Before atmospheric testing, the natural tritium content of precipitation was less than about 60 pCi/1; atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons increased tritium contents of precipitation by several orders of magnitude ( levels in water from a number of NTS water-supply wells during a 1964 survey; levels of 1000 to 2500 pCI/1 (300 to 800 tritium units) were measured for some wells, but most wells had much lower levels. Benson and McKinley (1985) reported detectable tritium levels In six wells from Yucca Mountain and vicinity, UE-25b#l (2 pC1/l), UE-25c#3 (2 pC1/l). UE-25p#l carbonate water (10 pCI/1), UE-29a#2 (37 pCI/1), USW H-3 (2 pC1/l), and USW H-6 (1-4 pC1/l).…”

Data Qualification Report: Major Ion and Ph Data for Use on the Yucca Mountain Project

“…19940323.0239). In this well the actual chloride concentration of 9.5 mg/L was erroneously reported as 5.5 mg/L by Benson and McKinley (1985 , Table I), and the error was carried over to AMR SO040 Tables 4 and 10. The chloride concentration for this well is correctly reported as 9.5 mg/L by McKinley et a1 (1991, Table 6).…”

Preliminary hydrogeologic assessment of boreholes UE-25c #1, UE-25c #2, and UE-25c #3, Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada

“…37) and an apparent carbon-14 age for the water of about 15,000 years before present (table 16) also indicate that the water has been circulating underground for some time. Benson and McKinley, 1985).…”

“…The lithium chloride tracer was selected because the background concentration of lithium in the water from well J-13, the well used to supply water during the drilling and testing of the C-holes, was known to be 0.040 mg/L (Benson and McKinley, 1985). Samples considered to be representative of uncontaminated ground water in the C-holes were not collected until lithium concentrations were equal to or almost the same as background concentrations.…”