The use of Radon (Rn222) isotopes to detect groundwater discharge in streams draining Table Mountain Group (TMG) aquifers

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dc.contributor.authorStrydom, Tercia
dc.contributor.authorNel, J.M.
dc.contributor.authorNel, M.
dc.date.accessioned2022-05-30T08:00:33Z
dc.date.available2022-05-30T08:00:33Z
dc.date.issued2021
dc.description.abstractEnvironmental isotopes have been used for decades as natural tracers in studies aimed at understanding complex hydrogeological processes such as groundwater and surface water interactions. Radon (Rn222) is a naturally occurring, radioactive isotope which is produced from radium (Ra226) during the radioactive decay series of uranium (U238). Since U238 is present in most geological substrates, Rn222 is produced in various lithological structures and subsequently transported with groundwater through fractures and pore spaces in an aquifer towards surface water discharge points in rivers and springs. This study aimed to determine (i) the concentration of Rn222 within both surface water and groundwater in Table Mountain Group (TMG) aquifer systems, and (ii) the feasibility of using Rn222 isotopes as a natural tracer in groundwatersurface water interaction studies. This study was conducted in a highly fractured TMG aquifer system near Rawsonville, South Africa. Surface water from two perennial rivers (i.e. Gevonden and Molenaars), together with groundwater from a nearby borehole, were sampled and their corresponding Rn222 concentrations measured. Our study found median Rn222 concentrations in the Gevonden River of 76.4 Bq∙L-1 and 67.2 Bq∙L-1 in the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Nearly 12% of surface water samples exceeded 100 Bq∙L-1.en_US
dc.identifier.citationStrydom, T. et al. (2021). The use of Radon (Rn222) isotopes to detect groundwater discharge in streams draining Table Mountain Group (TMG) aquifers. Water SA, 47(2), 194–199. https://doi.org/10.17159/wsa/2021.v47.i2.10915en_US
dc.identifier.issn0378-4738
dc.identifier.uri10.17159/wsa/2021.v47.i2.10915
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10566/7472
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherWater Research Commission (WRC)en_US
dc.subjectEnvironmental isotopesen_US
dc.subjectHeadwater streamsen_US
dc.subjectHydrological tracersen_US
dc.subjectRadioactivityen_US
dc.subjectTable Mountain Groupen_US
dc.titleThe use of Radon (Rn222) isotopes to detect groundwater discharge in streams draining Table Mountain Group (TMG) aquifersen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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