Hydraulic conductivity (K), porosity and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were determined at the laboratory scale on samples of the Wildmoor Sandstone and Kidderminster Formations of the Birmingham Triassic sandstone. The impact of the rock colour was considered in a semi-quantitative manner using the Munsell Colour System. SEM, flushing experiments and image analysis of thin-section photomicrographs were used to assess the role of rock fabric in the development of hydraulic and chemical properties. The image analysis was carried out on colour images using a custom-written code. XRD, point counting and geophysical methods were utilised to assess the mineralogical variation between samples, the presence of iron and manganese oxides within the sandstone was quantified. The study found significant negative correlations between porosity and CEC in all samples, while a correlation between K and CEC was only observed in samples with a lower colour saturation. A significant role for manganese oxides in the development of CEC in the Triassic Sandstone of Birmingham has been identified. The study has concluded that a significant part of the CEC within these rocks is due to the presence of a reducible phase. This has significant implications for migration of contaminants, particularly those entrained in a reducing plume.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:273923 |
| Date | January 2003 |
| Creators | Mitchener, Richard G. R. |
| Publisher | University of Birmingham |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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