Geologic studies to identify the source for high levels of radium and barium in Illinois ground-water supplies: a preliminary report

Gilkeson, Robert H.; Specht, Susan A.; Cartwright, Keros; Griffin, Robert Alfred; Larson, Thurston Eric

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/91631 Copy

Description

Title

Geologic studies to identify the source for high levels of radium and barium in Illinois ground-water supplies: a preliminary report

Author(s)

• Gilkeson, Robert H.
• Specht, Susan A.
• Cartwright, Keros
• Griffin, Robert Alfred
• Larson, Thurston Eric

Contributor(s)

• Illinois State Geological Survey
• Illinois State Water Survey

Issue Date

1978-08-01

Keyword(s)

• Groundwater
• Aquifers
• Water resource development
• Water resource development--Illinois
• Aquifer properties
• Barite
• Barium
• Chemical properties
• Radioactivity
• Radioisotopes
• Radium
• Sedimentary rocks
• Solubility
• Sulfate
• Thorium
• Uranium

Abstract

Analyses of water from municipal wells in Illinois by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency showed that more than 300 wells exceeded the upper limit, 3 picocuries/liter (U.S. Public Health Service, 1962), for gross alpha radiation in drinking water. More than 30 wells exceeded the upper limit, 1 milligram/liter (U.S. Public Health Service, 1962), for barium in drinking water. High levels of radiation in ground water were more extensive in areal distribution than the high levels of barium. All of the affected wells were finished in bedrock, primarily in rocks of the Cambrian and Ordovician Systems of northern Illinois. The geologic settings in which the high levels of radiation and barium were documented indicated that the problem was not restricted to Illinois.The source of the radiation in ground water was thought to be the natural occurrence of the radioactive elements.uranium-238 and thorium-232 in the aquifer rocks. Analyses of a limited number of rock samples indicated that uranium and thorium concentrations were highest in fine-grained sediments in the aquifer systems; the highest concentration was in shales that confine the aquifer.The occurrence of natural radioisotopes in ground water was thought to be complex, involving source rocks, ground water chemistry, and the hydraulic stress placed on the aquifer.Chemical analyses of rock samples indicated that high concentrations of barium were widespread in rocks of the Cambrian and Ordovician Systems. The concentration of barium in ground water was controlled by solubility equilibria reactions with sulfate ion. A map showing sulfate ion concentration in the Cambrian-Ordovician Aquifer could be used to delimit regions where barium might occur at concentrations exceeding 1 milligram/liter.

Publisher

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Water Resources Center

Type of Resource

text

Language

English

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/91631

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

• U.S. Department of the Interior
• U.S. Geological Survey

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 1978 held by the authors

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