Geochemistry of groundwater in the eastern Snake River Plain aquifer, Idaho National Laboratory and vicinity, eastern Idaho

Completion summary for borehole TAN-2312 at Test Area North, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho

“…Rattray (2018) indicated that most eastern regional influenced water had sulfur isotope concentrations greater than 10 per mil; although a couple of wells (Park Bell and USGS 4, Knobel and others, 1999) did have sulfur isotopes similar to the concentration of 8.38 per mil in TAN-2312 (table 5). Rattray (2018) attributed the lower sulfur isotope concentrations to geothermal influence in the case of Park Bell and irrigation influence in the case of USGS 4. The stable isotope data for TAN-2312 probably indicate the water is influenced by irrigation in the Mud Lake area.…”

“…Mud Lake water is more enriched with these isotopes because of recirculation of irrigation water (Rattray, 2018). Rattray (2018) indicated that most eastern regional influenced water had sulfur isotope concentrations greater than 10 per mil; although a couple of wells (Park Bell and USGS 4, Knobel and others, 1999) did have sulfur isotopes similar to the concentration of 8.38 per mil in TAN-2312 (table 5). Rattray (2018) attributed the lower sulfur isotope concentrations to geothermal influence in the case of Park Bell and irrigation influence in the case of USGS 4.…”

An update of hydrologic conditions and distribution of selected constituents in water, Eastern Snake River Plain aquifer and perched groundwater zones, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho, emphasis 2016–18

“…Mann and Cecil (1990, p. 18) speculated that tritium was not present in wells USGS 83 and EBR 1 because of dilution from deeper water. Rattray (2018) determined that the water sampled from wells EBR 1; and USGS 83, 89, 117, and 119 were all very old Big Lost River water and (or) Little Lost River Valley water. Rattray (2018) also reported that several of these wells had very low hydraulic conductivities and that the low conductivities probably limit current areas of recharge from influencing the water in the wells.…”

Evaluation of hydrologic processes in the eastern Snake River Plain aquifer using uranium and strontium isotopes, Idaho National Laboratory, eastern Idaho

“…To understand these risks, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the DOE, collects water-quality data and conducts investigative studies of the aquifer (Knobel and others, 2005). The water-quality data, in addition to providing information about risks to groundwater quality from waste constituents, are used in geochemistry studies (Olmsted, 1962;Robertson and others, 1974;Busenberg and others, 2001;Rattray, 2018Rattray, , 2019Rattray, , 2023 to understand hydrologic and chemical processes in the ESRP aquifer and to determine how these processes influence the concentrations and movement of groundwater and waste constituents in the aquifer. Results from geochemistry studies also provide information that may be used to improve, constrain, and (or) calibrate groundwater-flow models of the ESRP aquifer at the INL (Fisher and others, 2012).…”

“…Chapter A of Professional Paper 1837 (Rattray, 2018) documented the use of natural U and Sr isotopic compositions and a two-component mixing model to identify sources of recharge to groundwater at the INL. Information derived from that study indicated that U and Sr isotope ratios were not available for all sources of recharge to groundwater at the INL or from enough well-distributed groundwater samples from the INL to completely and confidently identify the sources of recharge throughout the INL.…”