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Radiocarbon dating and the 36Cl/Cl evolution of three Great Artesian Basin wells at Dalhousie, South Australia

La datation au radiocarbone et l’évolution du rapport 36Cl/Cl de trois puits du Grand Bassin Artésien en Dalhousie, Australie du Sud

La datación por radiocarbono y evolución 36Cl/Cl de tres pozos en la gran cuenca artesiana de Dalhousie, Australia del Sur

澳大利亚南部达尔毫西地区大自流盆地三口井中的放射性碳测年和36Cl/Cl演化

Datação por radiocarbono e a evolução de 36Cl/Cl de três poços na Grande Bacia Artesiana em Dalhousie, Sul da Austrália

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Abstract

The use of 14C (half-life = 5,730 years) in modeling the evolution of the 36Cl/Cl ratios in groundwater is reported for the first time. The complexity of the Cl–36Cl system due to the occurrence of different Cl and 36Cl sources and the difficulty of the determination of the initial groundwater 36Cl/Cl ratios have raised concerns about the reliability of using 36Cl (half-life = 301 thousand years, a) as a groundwater-dating tool. This work uses groundwater 14C age as a calibrating parameter of the Cl–36Cl/Cl decay-mixing models of three wells from the southwestern Great Artesian Basin (GAB), Australia. It aims to allow for the different sources of Cl and 36Cl in the southwestern GAB aquifer. The results show that the initial Cl concentrations range from 245 to 320 mg/l and stable Cl is added to groundwater along flowpaths at rates ranging from 1.4 to 3.5 mg/l/ka. The 36Cl content of the groundwater is assumed to be completely of atmospheric origin. The samples have different Cl–36Cl/Cl mixing-decay models reflecting recharge under different conditions as well as the heterogeneity of the aquifer.

Résumé

L’utilisation du 14C (demi-vie = 5,730 ans) dans la modélisation de l’évolution des rapports du 36Cl/Cl dans les eaux souterraines est présentée pour la première fois. La complexité du système Cl–36Cl en raison de l’occurrence de différentes sources du Cl et du 36Cl et de la difficulté de la détermination de des rapports 36Cl /Cl initiaux de l’eau souterraine ont soulevé des préoccupations au sujet de la fiabilité de l’utilisation du 36Cl (demi-vie = 301 milles ans (ka)) comme un outil de datation des eaux souterraines. Ce travail utilise l’âge de l’eau souterraine déterminé à l’aide du 14C en tant que paramètre de calibration des modèles de désintégration-mélange du Cl–36Cl/Cl appliqués sur trois puits du sud-ouest du Grand Bassin Artésien (GAB), en Australie. Il a pour but de tenir compte des différentes sources de Cl et 36Cl dans le Sud-Ouest de l’aquifère GAB. Les résultats montrent que les concentrations initiales de Cl sont comprises entre 245 à 320 mg/l et que le Cl stable est ajouté aux eaux souterraines le long des voies d’écoulement à des taux variant entre 1.4 et 3.5 mg/ l/ka. La teneur en 36Cl de l’eau souterraine est supposée être entièrement d’origine atmosphérique. Les échantillons permettent l’élaboration de différents modèles de mélange-désintégration Cl–36Cl/Cl, reflétant la recharge pour des conditions différentes, ainsi que l’hétérogénéité de l’aquifère.

Resumen

Se reporta por primera vez el uso de 14C (vida media = 5,730 years) en el modelado de la evolución de la relación 36Cl/Cl en agua subterránea. La complejidad del sistema Cl–36Cl debido a la ocurrencia de diferentes fuentes de Cl y 36Cl y la dificultad de la determinación inicial en el agua subterránea de las relaciones 36Cl/Cl han generado preocupación acerca de la fiabilidad de la utilización de 36Cl (vida media = 301 mil años (ka)) como una herramienta de la datación del agua subterránea. Este trabajo utiliza la edad 14C del agua subterránea como un parámetro de calibración de los modelos de desintegración de la mezcla Cl–36Cl/Cl de tres pozos en la gran cuenca artesiana (GAB) del sudoeste de Australia. Su objetivo es tener en cuenta las diferentes fuentes de Cl y 36Cl en el acuífero GAB del sudoeste. Los resultados muestran que las concentraciones iniciales de Cl van de 245 a 320 mg/l y el Cl estable se adiciona al agua subterránea a lo largo de trayectorias de flujo a tasas que van desde 1.4 a 3.5 mg/l/ka. El contenido de 36Cl del agua subterránea se supone que es completamente de origen atmosférico. Las muestras tienen diferentes modelos de mezcla de desintegración- Cl–36Cl/Cl reflejando la recarga bajo distintas condiciones así como la heterogeneidad del acuífero.

摘要

首次论述了在模拟地下水36Cl/Cl比值演化中14C(半衰期5730年)的应用。Cl 和 36Cl不同来源造成的Cl–36Cl系统的复杂性及确定初始地下水36Cl/Cl比值的困难性引起了人们对采用36Cl(半衰期 = 301千年)作为地下水测年工具的可靠性的关注。本项工作利用地下水14C年龄作为澳大利亚西南大自流盆地三口井Cl–36Cl/Cl衰变--混合模型的校**参数。目的就是考虑到西南大自流盆地含水层中的Cl 和 36Cl来于不同。结果显示,Cl出示含量为245 至320 毫升/升,稳定Cl沿水流通道加入地下水,速度为1.4至3.5 毫克/升/千年。假定地下水中的36Cl含量完全来自大气。样品有不同的Cl–36Cl/Cl混合-衰减模型,反映不同条件下的补给以及含水层的异质性。

Resumo

O uso de 14C (meia-vida = 5,730 anos) na modelagem da evolução de razões 36Cl/Cl nas águas subterrâneas é relatado pela primeira vez. A complexidade do sistema Cl–36Cl à diferentes fontes de Cl e 36Cl e a dificuldade na determinação das razões 36Cl/Cl nas águas subterrâneas têm levantado dúvidas quanto a validade em utilizar-se 36Cl (meia-vida = 301 mil anos, ka) como uma ferramenta de datação de águas subterrâneas. Esse trabalho usa a idade 14C das águas subterrâneas como um parâmetro de calibração dos modelos de decaimento-mistura Cl–36Cl/Cl de três poços da porção sudoeste da Grande Bacia Artesiana (GBA), Austrália. Isso objetiva levar em conta as diferentes fontes de Cl e 36Cl na porção sudoeste do aquífero GBA. Os resultados mostram que a concentração inicial de Cl varia de 245 a 320 mg/l a Cl estável é adicionado às águas subterrâneas por fluxos direcionais com taxas variando de 1.4 a 3.5 mg/l/ka. Assume-se que o conteúdo de 36Cl nas águas subterrâneas é de origem completamente atmosférica. As amostras têm modelos de decaimento-mistura Cl–36Cl/Cl diferentes, refletindo a recarga sob diferentes condições, assim como a heterogeneidade do aquífero.

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Acknowledgements

The author is deeply thankful to Dr. Ian Clark (University of South Australia; UniSA) for his unlimited support, guidance, and kindness, as it would have been really difficult to get this work done without his encouragement. Thanks also goes to Professor Simon Beecham (UniSA) for his help and guidance; additionally, I would like to thank Monica Berherd and Judy Ford (UniSA) for their help. Many thanks are due to Mr. Robert Aebi and Dr. Roger Clay (UniSA) for hel** me in the second field trip. I am deeply grateful to the support of the Department of Water, Land, and Biodiversity Conservation (DWLBC) for arranging the first field expedition sampling and analyses. Thanks to the (DWLBC) individuals who helped during this expedition. Lastly, I am deeply grateful to the Egyptian Government for sponsoring my PhD scholarship.

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  1. Desert Research Center (DRC), 1 Mathaf El Matarya St, B.O. Box 11753, El Matarya, Cairo, Egypt

    Usama A. Abu Risha

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Abu Risha, U.A. Radiocarbon dating and the 36Cl/Cl evolution of three Great Artesian Basin wells at Dalhousie, South Australia. Hydrogeol J 24, 987–1000 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-016-1364-4

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