Igneous and metamorphic rock units have long been considered marginal aquifers yet they are a significant source for potable drinking water in many areas worldwide. Additionally, use of these systems is on the rise due to many factors including, contamination and overuse of surficial systems, as well as expanding population and drought. The Nashoba Terrane is a fault-bounded block of high-grade, steeply dipping metavolcanic and metasedimentary rock located in eastern Massachusetts, U.S.A. The Nashoba is northeast trending, extending from Oxford, MA to the Gulf of Maine south of Newburyport, MA. Seventeen previously drilled wells throughout the Nashoba were selected for use in this study. The goal of this study was to characterize the hydrogeologic system of the Nashoba Terrane. Wells studied were in three bedrock types: granite, schist and amphibolite. Three fracture types were identified: FPF, subhorizontal unloading joints and tectonic joints. Several major fracture orientation sets were also identified including northeast trending FPF, east-west trending and north-south trending tectonic joints as well as northwest trending tectonic joints. Dominant sets varied in the three rock types and the frequency of fractures was found to decrease with depth. Only four percent of all fractures measured in this study were flowing. Approximately 32% of the flowing fractures were northeast trending, 17% of subhorizontal fractures were flowing and the remaining 51% were of variable orientation and dip. In general, the orientation of fractures was not found to determine whether a fracture flows, nor was rock type a significant determinant of flow. There was no flow identified below 170 meters and the majority of flow in the Nashoba Terrane is constrained to the upper 100 meters. This is most likely due to decreased fracture frequency and permeability with depth. This study is significant to the search for a sustainable groundwater source in bedrock because results show that the few fractures are actually contributing to flow and that flow is primarily occurring near the surface.

Characterizing and preserving available groundwater resources within crystalline rocks is pertinent to understanding and predicting resources for ecosystems worldwide. Crystalline-rock aquifers, with favorable structure and climate, can be pumped year-round to meet local domestic demand. The Ploemeur hydrogeologic site, near the southern coast of Brittany, France, is characterized by a structurally complex fractured mica-schist and granite confined aquifer system. A contact zone, which acts as the main localized flow path through the aquifer, separates the two crystalline units, and a sub-vertical permeable fault zone cross-cuts the crystalline bedrock and contact zone. Using field observations, recharge estimates, and a calibrated three-dimensional numerical multi-zone MODFLOW 6 model, we present preferential flow paths of recharge infiltrating the complex geology of the Ploemeur hydrogeological site during pumping conditions. Using MODPATH to track groundwater and recharge path lines, we determine that water extracted from the aquifer originates from higher elevation areas west of the pumping site. Particle tracking analyses indicate that precipitation simulated over the pumping zone takes a minimum of two years to reach the pumping wells and travels up to 100 m in distance. Analyses of the water budget of the aquifer system using Zonebudget show that storage contributes significantly to the productivity of the system. Based on these analyses, we determine that recharge mechanisms such as piston flow and preferential flow play important roles in the Ploemeur hydrogeologic site. Though the Ploemeur site is unique in its composition and geometry, the methods used to characterize and monitor the aquifer can be applied to fractured crystalline-rock aquifers globally. Fractured crystalline-rock aquifers make up 10% of the region's freshwater sources, thus understanding their flow mechanisms contributes greatly to the management of freshwater resources. / Master of Science / Groundwater aquifers are a common source of freshwater worldwide as groundwater makes up 30% of Earth's freshwater resources. Porous, sedimentary aquifers, made of materials such as sand or gravel, are well studied; however, the less understood aquifers found in crystalline bedrock are also found all over the world. Generally, igneous and metamorphic crystalline rocks are not porous and have low permeabilities, but fractures and faults in the crystalline rock can increase the ability for water to travel through the system. The Ploemeur hydrogeologic site, located on the southern coast of Brittany, France, is a productive fractured crystalline-rock groundwater aquifer producing freshwater year round. The productivity of this aquifer is attributed to the increased hydraulic conductivity associated with the intersection of two permeable features: a subvertical fault zone and a sub-horizontal contact zone. Despite the aquifer's output, recharge travels very slowly into the system due to the depth, heterogeneity, and clay content in an overlying layer of weathered rock fragments and soil. In this study, we create a three-dimensional numerical model using MODFLOW to simulate precipitation in different locations to see how it travels through the aquifer to the site of groundwater pumping. We see that the recharge prefers to travel topographically from regions of higher elevation to lower elevation. The recharge preferentially travels through the geologic features with higher permeabilities, including the fault zone, regolith, and contact zone, but it does still travel through the less permeable, crystalline bedrock units. Even in the features with the higher permeabilities, simulated recharge requires a minimum of 2 years to travel from the land surface to the pumping wells. The pumping wells extract significant water from storage, as seen in our water budget calculations of each geologic unit. We see two recharge mechanisms present in the hydrogeologic site: piston flow, where young water displaces older water from the storage, and preferential flow, where recharge prefers to travel through regions with higher hydraulic conductivity. Understanding the recharge mechanisms in crystalline aquifers is pertinent to our knowledge of freshwater resources as crystalline aquifers make up approximately 10% of all groundwater supplies.

SANTIAGO, Roberto Namor Silva. Processos hidrogeoquímicos em águas subterrâneas no cristalino em Caucaia/CE. Contribuição da modelagem inversa através do PHREEQC. 2010. 77 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Física) - Programa de Pós-Graduação em Física, Departamento de Física, Centro de Ciências, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, 2010. / Submitted by Edvander Pires (edvanderpires@gmail.com) on 2015-10-15T18:01:19Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2010_dis_rnssantiago.pdf: 1685141 bytes, checksum: b666d487f1ddbb3e61b487b7b797e6ee (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Edvander Pires(edvanderpires@gmail.com) on 2015-10-21T20:36:04Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2010_dis_rnssantiago.pdf: 1685141 bytes, checksum: b666d487f1ddbb3e61b487b7b797e6ee (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-10-21T20:36:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2010_dis_rnssantiago.pdf: 1685141 bytes, checksum: b666d487f1ddbb3e61b487b7b797e6ee (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / The interaction between groundwater and rocks, occurs through processes of dissolution and precipitation that attest to the hydrochemical evolution within the aquifer system with direct influence on water quality. In this study, we used the application PHREEQC to simulate these processes in water from seven wells in crystalline collected during dry and wet, with the aim of identifying the origin of the salinity of these waters. The results show that (i) the salinity varies in space and time, (ii) are mainly chlorinated water from the mixed type, (iii) the type of water remains in each well (iv) the salinity decreases during the rainy season and increases in dry period, reaching values characteristic of each well, (v) water-saturated goethite, hematite and iron hydroxide III occurred in two wells, calcite, dolomite and aragonite in three wells and two wells in hematite. In the dry and rainy season, there were dissolution of anorthite and K-feldspar, precipitation of K-mica and albite and cationic exchange types CaX2, MgX2, NaX and KX. The waters are more saline in wells that received minor differences in recharges and refills is characteristic of areas in the lens. / A interação entre a água subterrânea e as rochas, ocorre através de processos de dissolução e precipitação que atestam a evolução hidroquímicas dentro do sistema aqüífero com a influência direta na qualidade da água. Nesse trabalho, foi utilizado o aplicativo PHREEQC para simular esses processos em águas de 7 poços no cristalino coletadas nos períodos seco e chuvoso, com o objetivo de identificar a origem da salinidade dessas águas. Os resultados mostram que (i) a salinidade varia no espaço e no tempo; (ii) predomina água do tipo cloretada mista; (iii) o tipo de água se mantém em cada poço (iv) a salinidade diminui no período chuvoso e aumenta no período seco, atingindo valores característicos de cada poço, (v) águas saturadas de goetita, hematita e hidróxido de ferro III ocorreram em dois poços; calcita, dolomita e aragonita em 3 poços e hematita em 2 poços. No período seco e chuvoso, ocorreram dissoluções de anortita e K-feldspato, precipitação de K-mica e albita e trocas catiônicas dos tipos CaX2, MgX2, NaX e KX. As águas mais salinas estão nos poços que receberam menores recargas e as diferenças nas recargas é característica de áreas no cristalino.

Water resources in hard rock terrain are difficult to characterize due to heterogeneity and anisotropy in the fracture network, low porosities and limited recharge volumes available during the summer season. Three methods were developed and evaluated in order to assist in water supply planning. A groundwater resources potential index was estimated using multivariate statistics, where physical and geological variables were classified using Analysis of Variance and Fisher's Least Significant Difference tests according to their effect on hydraulic properties. Principal component analysis was used to assign weights to the different classed variables. Classes and weights were used to produce an index referred to as groundwater resources potential (GRP), which correlated significantly with well data. Nearly 80% of the wells with less than median specific capacity values also had GRP values at those locations of zero or lower. Non-stationary variance was observed in specific capacity sub-samples taken from the Geological Survey of Sweden's well archive, despite homogeneous geology and topography. Spatial statistical analyses showed that spatial correlations were weak in well archive samples, implying that regional approximations based on sparse point data are highly error prone. Kinematic porosity estimated using superficial fracture measurements correlated significantly with well archive data. However, low correlation coefficients indicated that well data is likely not a suitable method for predicting water supply characteristics. This approach is an efficient method which shows promise in preliminary estimations of groundwater storage in heterogenic terrains. A groundwater balance model which describes seasonal groundwater storage changes was created in order to better approximate the groundwater situation often found in Swedish urbanized and semi-urbanized hard rock terrains. The model was based on a water budget approach at the pixel scale, and allows for approximation of well extraction which is not uniformly distributed in space. The model showed that in specific regions groundwater extraction may lead to severe decreases in groundwater level, where these impacts may not otherwise be expected. Dry season modelling with 10% increased evapotranspiration showed that in several areas groundwater reservoir depletion may be influenced by more than 50%. / <p>QC 20140331</p>

Vatten är en livsviktig resurs för allt liv. I Sverige kommer hälften av allt dricksvatten från grundvatten. I kustnära områden begränsas grundvattentillgången av omgivningens lagringsförmåga och begränsad tillrinningsyta och det leder till att tillgången på vatten ett växande problem. Det är därför viktigt att förstå alla parametrar som påverkar grundvattnet, både för nutida och framtida brukare. Förändringen av grundvatten i geologiskt blandad miljö är svårt att kartlägga på grund av lagerföljder, materialens heterogenitet, låg kinematisk porositet och okunskap om strömningen mellan olika lager. Grundvattennivåerna skiftar dessutom med klimatet, både över året och över längre tid. Även människans påverkan är av stor betydelse. Rapportens syfte är att se hur dessa parametrar påverkar grundvattenytan i förhållande till varandra. För att undersöka dessa parametrar har tre olika geografiska, kustnära områden jämförts: Stor, Blidö, och Insjön, Rådmansö, i Norrtälje kommun samt Klintemåla i Oskarshamns kommun. För att sätta vattenanvändningen i ett sammanhang har uppgifterna relaterats till vattenexploateringsindexet (WEI). Uppgifter har hämtats från SGU, SMHI och Lantmäteriets arkiv. I två fall har kompletterande fältundersökningar genomförts. Informationen har bearbetats i Excel och programmet GWBal. I dessa områden råder lokal akut eller total vattenbrist under vissa sommarmånader. Förekomsten av vatten är en fråga om lokal tillgång och en generellt god situation i Sverige döljer stora regionala och lokala obalanser. Vad fritidsboende gör spelar större roll än permanentboende då det är under sommarsäsongen problemen är störst. Mindre reservoarer är känsligare när parametrar för klimat, vattenförbrukning och kemisk sammansättning förändras. De klimattendenser som nu uppvisas leder till konklusionen att grundvattentillgången i områdena under den kritiska perioden kommer att minska. / Water is a vital resource for all human life. Half of all drinking water in Sweden comes from groundwater and in some coastal areas, the access to water is a growing problem. It is therefore crucial to properly understand all parameters that affect the access to water, both for present and future users. The change in groundwater level in geologically varied environments is hard to get a complete picture of. Stratification, heterogeneity of soil and rock, low kinematic porosity and flow between the layers are partially unknown parameters and therefore highly uncertain. Groundwater levels also change with the climate, both over the year and over longer period of time. The impact of humans is of great importance. The objective is to see how these parameters effects groundwater level in relation to each other. To analyze these factors, three different geographic areas in Sweden will be compared: Stor, Blidö, and Insjön, Rådmansö, in Norrtälje kommun and Klintemåla in Oskarshamns kommun. To put the water use and potential stress in context, the results will be related to the Water Exploitation Index (WEI). Data was obtained from the archives of SGU, SMHI and Lantmäteriet. In two cases, the information was supplemented with field investigation. The information was processed in Excel and the program GWBal. Overall, the local shortage of water in these areas is urgent during some summer months. The water supply is a local resource and the generally good situation in Sweden conceals major regional and local imbalances. The part time residents have a much greater impact since the problem is at its peak during summer. Changes in the climate, withdrawal of water and chemical composition have greater impact on small reservoirs then on big ones. With today’s trend in climate, the conclusion is that the availability of groundwater in the areas will decrease.

Les facteurs qui régissent l'intensité et la répartition de la recharge naturelle et artificielle dans les aquifères cristallins altérés et fracturés sont mal connus. Ce sont cependant les caractéristiques déterminantes de ce type de roche—ces roches sont très hétérogènes—qui rendent difficile l’estimation des flux dans ces milieux ainsi que des propriétés hydrauliques qui les contrôlent. La première partie de ce manuscrit fournit un état des connaissances sur la recharge des eaux souterraines et ses méthodes d’estimation, permettant de comprendre les défis scientifiques et sociétaux abordés dans cette thèse. La deuxième partie présente les travaux numériques et expérimentaux menés pour approfondir notre compréhension de la dynamique des flux d’eaux souterraines dans ces milieux hétérogènes à plusieurs échelles. Le premier axe de recherche porte sur les processus de recharge naturelle à l’échelle du bassin versant. La recharge diffuse a été modélisée avec un modèle physique simple d’infiltration et comparée à des estimations préalables de recharge totale. Nos résultats illustrent la forte dépendance de la recharge aux précipitations et à l’irrigation, et l’importance de la recharge focalisée. Les facteurs responsables de la distribution spatiale de la recharge sont aussi étudiés. Le deuxième axe est basé sur le suivi de la mise en eau d’un bassin de recharge artificielle dans un site hautement monitoré et bien équipé. Ces observations ont été interprétées avec des modèles analytiques et numériques. Ces modèles ont mis en évidence l’existence de flux préférentiels horizontaux, mais aussi d’une compartimentation latérale qui entrave la propagation des intrants de recharge. / The factors governing the intensity and distribution of natural and artificial recharge in weathered and fractured crystalline aquifers are poorly understood. However, it is the defining characteristics of this type of rock—these rocks are very heterogeneous—that make the estimation of fluxes and the hydraulic properties controlling them difficult. The first of its two parts provides the theoretical framework on groundwater recharge processes and its estimation methods for comprehending the scientific and societal challenges discussed in this thesis. The second part presents the numerical and experimental work carried out to deepen our understanding of the dynamics of groundwater flows in these heterogeneous underground environments at several scales. The first line of research focuses on natural recharge processes at the watershed scale. Diffuse recharge was modeled with a simple physical infiltration model and compared to previous estimates of total recharge. Our results highlight the strong dependence of recharge on rainfall and irrigation, and the importance of focused recharge. The factors responsible for the spatial distribution of recharge are also studied. The second axis is based on the monitoring of the filling of an artificial recharge basin at a highly monitored and well-equipped site. These observations were interpreted with analytical and numerical models to improve our knowledge of flow dynamics in fractured crystalline rocks at the medium scale. These models illustrated the existence of preferential horizontal flows, but also of a lateral compartmentalization that hinders the propagation of recharge inputs.

Universidade Federal do Cearà / A interaÃÃo entre a Ãgua subterrÃnea e as rochas, ocorre atravÃs de processos de dissoluÃÃo e precipitaÃÃo que atestam a evoluÃÃo hidroquÃmicas dentro do sistema aqÃÃfero com a influÃncia direta na qualidade da Ãgua. Nesse trabalho, foi utilizado o aplicativo PHREEQC para simular esses processos em Ãguas de 7 poÃos no cristalino coletadas nos perÃodos seco e chuvoso, com o objetivo de identificar a origem da salinidade dessas Ãguas. Os resultados mostram que (i) a salinidade varia no espaÃo e no tempo; (ii) predomina Ãgua do tipo cloretada mista; (iii) o tipo de Ãgua se mantÃm em cada poÃo (iv) a salinidade diminui no perÃodo chuvoso e aumenta no perÃodo seco, atingindo valores caracterÃsticos de cada poÃo, (v) Ãguas saturadas de goetita, hematita e hidrÃxido de ferro III ocorreram em dois poÃos; calcita, dolomita e aragonita em 3 poÃos e hematita em 2 poÃos. No perÃodo seco e chuvoso, ocorreram dissoluÃÃes de anortita e K-feldspato, precipitaÃÃo de K-mica e albita e trocas catiÃnicas dos tipos CaX2, MgX2, NaX e KX. As Ãguas mais salinas estÃo nos poÃos que receberam menores recargas e as diferenÃas nas recargas à caracterÃstica de Ãreas no cristalino. / The interaction between groundwater and rocks, occurs through processes of dissolution and precipitation that attest to the hydrochemical evolution within the aquifer system with direct influence on water quality. In this study, we used the application PHREEQC to simulate these processes in water from seven wells in crystalline collected during dry and wet, with the aim of identifying the origin of the salinity of these waters. The results show that (i) the salinity varies in space and time, (ii) are mainly chlorinated water from the mixed type, (iii) the type of water remains in each well (iv) the salinity decreases during the rainy season and increases in dry period, reaching values characteristic of each well, (v) water-saturated goethite, hematite and iron hydroxide III occurred in two wells, calcite, dolomite and aragonite in three wells and two wells in hematite. In the dry and rainy season, there were dissolution of anorthite and K-feldspar, precipitation of K-mica and albite and cationic exchange types CaX2, MgX2, NaX and KX. The waters are more saline in wells that received minor differences in recharges and refills is characteristic of areas in the lens

The geological repository for final storage of spent nuclear fuel, envisioned by the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Management Company (SKB), relies on several barriers: copper canisters deposited in holes in the floor of underground tunnels in deep bedrock, embedded in a buffer of compacted bentonite. The initially unsaturated buffer would take up water from the surrounding rock mass and swell to seal any potential gap. This initial two-phase (gas and liquid) regime with two components (air and water) may impact the final density, swelling pressure and biogeochemical conditions in the buffer. A main objective of this work is to identify factors and mechanisms that govern deposition hole inflow and bentonite wetting under the prevailing two-phase flow conditions in sparsely fractured bedrock. For this purpose, we use the numerical code TOUGH2 to perform two-phase flow simulations, conditioned by a companion field experiment (the Bentonite Rock Interaction Experiment or BRIE) performed in a 417 m deep tunnel of the Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory in southeastern Sweden. The models predict a significant de-saturation of the rock wall, which was confirmed by field data. To predict the early buffer wetting rates and patterns, the position of local flowing fractures and estimates of local rock matrix permeability appear more important than the total open hole groundwater inflow. A global sensitivity analysis showed that the buffer wetting time and the persistence of unsaturated conditions over extended periods of time in the rock depend primarily on the local fracture positions, rock matrix permeability, ventilation conditions in the tunnel and pressure far in the rock. Dismantling photographs from BRIE were used to reconstruct a fine-scale snapshot of saturation at the bentonite/rock interface, showing tremendous spatial variability. The high level of heterogeneity in the rock generates complex two-phase flow phenomena (air trapping, dissolution), which need to be accounted for in buffer design and rock suitability criteria. In particular, results suggest that uncertainties regarding two-phase flow behavior are relatively high close to residual air saturation, which may also have important implications for other applications involving two-phase flows, such as geological storage of carbon dioxide. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 1: Manuscript. Paper 4: Manuscript.</p>

Les milieux de socle cristallins fracturés et altérés représentent souvent la seule ressource en eau viable pour les régions arides et semi-arides. Toutefois, ces milieux fortement hétérogènes restent encore mal connus, notamment les principales structures qui contrôlent les écoulements et le transport de contaminants. Afin d'améliorer la connaissance de ces milieux, nous avons effectué une analyse détaillée des propriétés hydrologiques du site expérimental de Choutuppal (Andhra Pradesh, Inde du Sud) qui bénéficie d'un réseau dense de forages d'observation. L'étude porte à la fois sur 1) l'identification des structures pertinentes et la variabilité spatiale des propriétés hydrauliques et 2) sur les processus dominant le transport de soluté dans ces milieux fracturés. Dans un premier temps, l'évolution des propriétés en fonction de la profondeur a permis d'identifier les structures les plus perméables. Les propriétés du milieu ont ensuite été étudiées dans des conditions hydrologiques très contrastées. En conditions de hautes eaux, l'interface saprolite-granite contrôle les écoulements souterrains à l'échelle du bassin versant. En revanche, lorsque les niveaux piézométriques sont plus bas que cette interface, une compartimentation hydrologique apparaît en raison de la diminution de la connectivité et du nombre de fractures perméables en profondeur. Un modèle conceptuel d'écoulement souterrain est proposé à l'échelle du bassin-versant pour illustrer ces comportements hydrologiques contrastés. Pour identifier le rôle respectif des processus advectifs et diffusifs affectant tous deux le transport de soluté, deux types d'expériences de traçages artificiels ont été réalisés sous différentes configurations d'écoulements. La combinaison d'expériences de traçages entre puits et sur puits seul (push-pull) ont permis de mettre en avant le rôle prédominant de l'advection hétérogène. La diffusion dans la matrice peut être négligée, au moins pour les échelles de temps considérées. Les expériences de push-pull ont également permis d'identifier l'impact de l'échelle d'investigation sur le transport anormal de soluté. L'ensemble de ces résultats fournit une meilleure connaissance des propriétés et de la vulnérabilité de ces milieux soumis à une forte pression anthropique. / The fractured and weathered crystalline aquifers are often the only viable water resource in arid and semi-arid regions. Nevertheless, these highly heterogeneous media are still poorly understood, especially the major structures that control groundwater flows and contaminant transport. To improve knowledge of those media, we have conducted a detailed analysis of the hydrological properties of the Choutuppal experimental site (Andhra Pradesh, Southern India) which has a dense network of observation boreholes. The study focus on 1) the identification of relevant structures and the spatial variability of hydraulic properties and 2) the dominant solute transport processes in these fractured media. First, the evolution of properties with depth highlights the most permeable structures. The properties were then studied in highly contrasted hydrological conditions. In high water level conditions, the saprolite – granite interface controls groundwater flows at watershed scale. By contrast, when groundwater level is lower than this interface, hydrological compartmentalization appears due to the decrease of the number of permeable fractures with depth which in turns decreases considerably connectivity with depth. A conceptual model of groundwater flow is proposed at the watershed scale to illustrate these contrasting behaviors. To identify the respective role of advective and diffusive processes affecting both solute transport, two kind of tracer experiments were conducted under different flows configurations. Combination of tracer experiments between boreholes and single borehole tests (push-pull) permit to highlight the predominant role of heterogeneous advection. Matrix diffusion can be neglected at least for the time scales considered. The push-pull experiments have also allowed identifying the impact of investigation scale on anomalous solute transport. All results give a better understanding of the properties and the vulnerability of those media subject to strong anthropogenic pressure.

名古屋大学年代測定総合研究センターシンポジウム報告