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To evaluate the hydrogeochemical processes related to the presence, mobility, and transport of uranium and thorium in the southeastern Sierra de Guanajuato of the Bajio Guanajuatense, Mexico, the concentration of these elements in volcanic rocks and in groundwater were determined. Acidic volcanic rocks contained uranium concentrations of 1.04–6.88...
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Citations
... Lastly, ignimbrite tuff is present, characterized by a vitreous matrix containing quartz and clay mineral veins that replace feldspars. Biotites in this rock type are moderately replaced by chlorite (Morales-Arredondo et al. 2018c). The constituents of sedimentary deposits include conglomerates, clays, sandstones, and gravel. ...
Numerous groundwater wells in Mexico exceed the maximum allowable fluoride (F−) and arsenic (As) drinking water concentration requirements, posing an environmental and health risk to the population that relies solely on these wells for drinking water sources. Since encouraging results have been obtained utilizing native limestones to remove some toxic elements from contaminated water, the ability of the limestone rock outcrop to the south of the Sierra de Guanajuato in Mexico to remove As and F− from groundwater was assessed. A sampling campaign was conducted in the study area, focusing on wells exhibiting elevated concentrations of arsenic (As) and fluoride (F−) in compliance with international standards. This water was employed in the treatment experiment involving limestone rocks. The rock sampling process involved a reconnaissance campaign covering the study area and outcrop points of limestone rocks. Representative limestone samples were collected and subsequently subjected to mineralogical and geochemical characterization. Using rock samples, synthetic water, and groundwater from contaminated wells in the region, batch experiments were conducted to evaluate the As and F− removal capacity of limestone. The batch testing consisted of water–rock interactions at various times with different samples of limestone rocks, grain sizes, and water containing distinct concentrations of both elements, artificial and groundwater extracted close to the limestones outcrop. The results indicate that the rock with the highest calcium carbonate (CaCO3) content and the smallest grain size (< 0.05 mm) removes the highest concentrations of both As and F−, with As removal being superior. The removal mechanisms were studied using scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS) images, saturation index calculations, and Eh–pH diagrams,. Fluoride precipitation was favored when the pH of the solution was slightly acidic, whereas sorption was favored when the pH was higher. The results obtained are encouraging for the removal of high levels of As, and to a lesser extent for F−; consequently, the use of regional limestone rocks could be a viable option for improving the water quality ingested by rural inhabitants in the study area. Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) concentration can be used to identify limestone rocks with the potential to effectively remove As and F− in other locations.
... The granulometry of the alluvial materials varies from clay to gravel from volcanic, pyroclastic volcano-sedimentary units and deposits, and it is characterized by variable porosity and permeability (CONAGUA, 2015). The sequence of rhyolites and ignimbrites (ToR-TR-TmR) from the Oligocene-Miocene has low permeability (Morales-Arredondo et al., 2018b) and presents hydrothermal alteration, mainly in the Oligocene rocks (Alaniz-Álvarez et al., 2001). This sequence functions as an impermeable layer, and thus below this unit, the regional reservoir can be hosted. ...
... Tertiary basaltic and andesitic sequence (TmA-B, TplA-B) exhibit secondary porosity. Finally, the La Gavia monogenetic volcano (QptA-B), which is located to the south of the study area, near the Zone of La Machuca, acts as a recharge zone, and in some places, as a shallow unconfined aquifer (Morales-Arredondo et al., 2018b). ...
Mexico has five high-temperature geothermal fields, three of which are located in an active volcanic arc known as the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt in central Mexico and the other two in the state of Baja California in northwestern Mexico. In the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, there are numerous hot springs, many of which have not been studied yet. It is the case in the Rancho Nuevo area, which is composed of two hot springs and thermal groundwater wells. The present study focuses on defining the hydrogeochemical and isotopic characteristics and processes that are occurring. Based on ionic composition, three types of flow in the study area were identified: a) shallow flow represented by the Zone of La Machuca (ZLM), defined as Na-HCO3 type water with the lowest ionic contents and considered as the recharge zone; b) intermediate flow composed mainly of groundwater well samples from the Zone of Celaya (ZCya) and Zone of Rancho Nuevo (ZRN), represented by bicarbonate and alkaline waters as well; and, c) intermediate to deep flow represented by both hot springs located in the Zone of Rancho Nuevo (ZRN), which have the highest ionic concentrations, being chloride and alkaline type of water affected by a mixing process and with a magmatic component. According to the physicochemical parameters results and the ionic contents, hydrogeochemical processes were identified such as cationic exchange, silicates, and carbonate rocks alteration, and enhanced by the thermal activity in the region. In addition, the water-rock interaction process is also occurring in the Zone of Rancho Nuevo (ZRN) and was corroborated by the stable isotope results showing enrichment of δ18O.
Finally, the reservoir temperature was estimated at 225°C ± 15°C based on silica, cation, and integrated multicomponent solute geothermometers. This can be defined as a high-temperature geothermal system; however, for geothermal resource production, the calcium carbonate deposition in the wells shall be considered.
... Around the world, the presence of radionuclides as Th and U is usually associated with felsic rocks, vein-type deposits, pegmatitic intrusive rocks, and phosphatic deposits in addition to volcanic and sedimentary environments containing sandstone, metasomatic or metamorphic rocks (Dahlkamp, 2010(Dahlkamp, , 2016Morales-Arredondo et al., 2018). ...
Previous studies have addressed the occurrence of Acid Rock Drainage (ARD) affecting La Silva stream due to the generation of large dumps of Middle Ordovician black shales during the construction of a highway close to El Bierzo (León, Spain). This ARD was characterized by sulphated acid waters with high concentration of heavy metals and anomalies in dissolved thorium (Th) and uranium (U). In the present study, we analyse in depth black shales and water, streambed sediments and precipitates of La Silva stream and its tributaries using different petrographic, mineralogical and geochemical approaches. Black shales, with average Th and U contents of 20 and 3 μg/g respectively contain disseminated detritic micro-grains of high weathering-resistant minerals, such as monazite and xenotime, that present smaller amounts of yttrium and rare earth elements (REY) and other elements as Ca, U, Th, Si and F. Results of the affected waters by ARD show an enrichment in dissolved Th, U and REY of several orders of magnitude with respect to natural waters. Sampled precipitates were mainly schwertmannite (Fe8O8(OH)8-2x (SO4)xO16•nH2O) and goethite (α–Fe³⁺O(OH)) that showed an enrichment of Th (up to 798 μg/g) and REY, due to the presence of dissolved anionic species (e.g. Th(SO4)3²⁻, REY(SO4)2⁻) that enables their adsorption. Furthermore, these black shales show a clear enrichment in REE (Rare Earth Elements) with respect to NASC (North American Shales Composite) normalized REE patterns. Likewise, normalized REE patterns of stream waters and precipitates clearly show convex curvatures in middle-REE (MREE) with respect to light- and something less than heavy-REE, indicating the trend towards MREE enrichment. These findings are essential to evaluate the impact of ARD of Mid Ordovician shales in the surrounding environment, and to start considering these site as potential source of REE and critical raw materials, activating a Circular Economy.
... In addition to the geological properties of felsic rocks, factors such as the composition of water, its electric conductivity, redox conditions and residence time of groundwater have a significant influence on the increase or decrease the level of radioactivity in ground waters [4][5][6]. Many studies have shown that the ground waters draining through felsic rocks may have radionuclide levels which may exceed recognized drinking water norms [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. ...
... In addition to the geological properties of felsic rocks, factors such as the composition of water, its electric conductivity, redox conditions and residence time of groundwater have a significant influence on the increase or decrease the level of radioactivity in ground waters [4][5][6]. Many studies have shown that the ground waters draining through felsic rocks may have radionuclide levels which may exceed recognized drinking water norms [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. ...
Variation of natural radioactivity level in the ground waters in the Arıklı uranium mineralization area, were investigated together with gross-α, gross-β, U, Th, K, EC and pH values. The U, Th and K values, which are mainly controlled by the geological features, varied over a wide range from 0.29 to 31.29 µg/L, 0.01-0.27 μg/L and from 0.44 to 37.29 mg/L, respectively. Although the U values of some water samples are higher than the WHO safe limits (15 ppb), all values of the gross-α and -β activity values and annual effective dose rates are lower than the drinking water safety limits of WHO (0.5 Bq/L, 1.0 Bq/L and 0.1 mSv/y, respectively).
... In Mexico, groundwater is the main source of water consumption. Different studies have shown that groundwater contains varying concentrations of arsenic, fluoride, and uranium (Armienta and Segovia, 2008;Ortega-Guerrero, 2009;Espino-Valdés et al., 2009;Reyes-Gómez et al., 2010;Camacho et al., 2011;Bundschuh et al., 2012;Litter et al., 2012;Banning et al., 2012;Armienta et al., 2013;Alarcón-Herrera et al., 2013;Mejia-González et al., 2014;Morales-Arredondo et al., 2018). Arsenic and fluoride concentrations in groundwater must be less than 25 μg/L and 1.5 mg/L (NOM-127-SSA1-1994, 1994, respectively, to avoid health damage, especially dental and kidney damage, when used long-term; when water is used for a short time, higher concentration limits are necessary to prevent cancer and toxicity risks (Bibi et al., 2017). ...
Groundwater samples from eight deep drinking water wells that cover three aquifers in Chihuahua City, northern Mexico, were fully characterized. Water is naturally contaminated with arsenic, fluoride, and uranium, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and local standards. The results from the Geochemist’s Workbench (GWB) program revealed that the minerals in equilibrium with the groundwater were calcite and dolomite, while others, such as fluoride, schoepite, rutherfordite and K(UO2)(AsO4), were also dissolved. The hydrogeochemical characterization of water samples indicates that they were sodium bicarbonate-type water samples at neutral to slightly alkaline pH (7.6-8.3). A batch equilibrium sorption procedure was implemented using natural groundwater, a synthesized chitosan network (net-CS) and a chitosan binary network grafted with N-vinylcaprolactam/N-N-dimethylacrylamide (net-CS)-g-NVCL/DMAAm hydrogels. Isotherms and kinetics sorption tests were evaluated. The adsorption capacity of net-CS hydrogels for As ions was 0.0022 mg/g and F ions 0.15 mg/g after 50 h. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) was used to investigate the hydrogel surface before and after the sorption process, and TGA was used to evaluate the stability of the adsorbents. Freundlich adsorption isotherm constants for As and F ions indicate heterogeneous sorption and the mechanism of retention by physisorption.
... Another significant variation in eTh levels occurred in the transition from P3 to P4 (8.1 mg/kg to 5.1 mg/kg) at T3 (Fig. 3), in areas identified as Cambisols on diabase. Considering that mafic rocks have a low Th content (Birch, 1954;Dickson & Scott, 1997;Morales-Arredondo et al., 2018), the high content in P3 indicates greater pedogenesis, and a different type of soil, probably a Lixisol or an intergrading between the soil two soil classes. All this demonstrates the high potential and high sensor accuracy for soil class delimitation and digital soil mapping, as noted by Cook et al. (1996);Schuler et al. (2011); Triantafilis et al. (2013); Dierke and Werban (2013); Minasny et al. (2013) and Moonjun et al. (2017), especially for discriminating argilluviation and ferralitization processes and identification of transitional areas (Herrmann et al., 2010;Reinhardt and Herrmann, 2019). ...
Geophysical methods, such as gamma-ray spectrometry, have great potential to enhance knowledge of the pedosphere (pedogenesis, pedogeochemistry and pedogeomorphology), helping to predict tropical soil attributes. We applied proximal gamma-ray spectrometry to evaluate tropical landscape dynamics, pedogenesis and spatial distribution of radionuclides and selected soil attributes. This study was carried out in southeast Brazil, where 79 soil samples (0-20 cm) along transects were collected to perform physical-chemical analysis coupled with collection of surface gamma-ray spectrometric data, allowing the detection of the radionuclides uranium (U 238), thorium (Th 232), and potassium (K 40). Additionally, we analyzed soils in four toposequences, with varying lithology, relief, and hydrology. The radionuclide concentrations in soils showed a direct relationship with the parent material composition, either rocks or sediments. Weathering degree and the geochemical behavior of each radionuclide determines its permanence or removal in soils. Denudation processes along the toposequences also influence the distribution of radionuclides. On one hand, the radionuclide contents of mature , weathered soils are closely associated with advanced pedogenesis, with a higher clay contents and argic horizon formation, whereas in younger, less weathered soils the parent material exerts a greater influence than pedogenesis. Uranium decreased with altitude, and showed greater mobility compared with thorium. Thorium presented a higher correlation with clay content, and the opposite with sand content. Potassium detection increased with soil cation exchange capacity (CEC) and clay content. Gamma-spectrometry detected significant variations in some segments along the toposequences, undetectable by conventional soil survey techniques. This may indicate changes from one soil class to another or the continuity of a particular soil class, demonstrating the potential of this tool in digital soil mapping, pedogeochemical, pedogeomorphological and pedogenesis processes studies.
... Another significant variation in eTh levels occurred in the transition from P3 to P4 (8.1 mg/kg to 5.1 mg/kg) at T3 (Fig. 3), in areas identified as Cambisols on diabase. Considering that mafic rocks have a low Th content (Birch, 1954;Dickson & Scott, 1997;Morales-Arredondo et al., 2018), the high content in P3 indicates greater pedogenesis, and a different type of soil, probably a Lixisol or an intergrading between the soil two soil classes. All this demonstrates the high potential and high sensor accuracy for soil class delimitation and digital soil mapping, as noted by Cook et al. (1996);Schuler et al. (2011); Triantafilis et al. (2013); Dierke and Werban (2013); Minasny et al. (2013) and Moonjun et al. (2017), especially for discriminating argilluviation and ferralitization processes and identification of transitional areas (Herrmann et al., 2010;Reinhardt and Herrmann, 2019). ...
Geophysical methods, such as gamma-ray spectrometry, have great potential to enhance knowledge of the
pedosphere (pedogenesis, pedogeochemistry and pedogeomorphology), helping to predict tropical soil attributes.
We applied proximal gamma-ray spectrometry to evaluate tropical landscape dynamics, pedogenesis and
spatial distribution of radionuclides and selected soil attributes. This study was carried out in southeast Brazil,
where 79 soil samples (0–20 cm) along transects were collected to perform physical-chemical analysis coupled
with collection of surface gamma-ray spectrometric data, allowing the detection of the radionuclides uranium
(U238), thorium (Th232), and potassium (K40). Additionally, we analyzed soils in four toposequences, with
varying lithology, relief, and hydrology. The radionuclide concentrations in soils showed a direct relationship
with the parent material composition, either rocks or sediments. Weathering degree and the geochemical behavior
of each radionuclide determines its permanence or removal in soils. Denudation processes along the
toposequences also influence the distribution of radionuclides. On one hand, the radionuclide contents of mature,
weathered soils are closely associated with advanced pedogenesis, with a higher clay contents and argic
horizon formation, whereas in younger, less weathered soils the parent material exerts a greater influence than
pedogenesis. Uranium decreased with altitude, and showed greater mobility compared with thorium. Thorium
presented a higher correlation with clay content, and the opposite with sand content. Potassium detection increased
with soil cation exchange capacity (CEC) and clay content. Gamma-spectrometry detected significant
variations in some segments along the toposequences, undetectable by conventional soil survey techniques. This
may indicate changes from one soil class to another or the continuity of a particular soil class, demonstrating the
potential of this tool in digital soil mapping, pedogeochemical, pedogeomorphological and pedogenesis processes
studies.
... Algunos estudios catalogan a la zona como parte de un sistema geotérmico de baja entalpía (Morales- Arredondo et al., 2018). Este acuífero presenta agua de mala calidad para consumo humano, principalmente por el alto contenido de As y F- (Morales et al., 2016a;2018c). ...
The sub-province Bajío Guanajuatense is located in Central Mexico, is one of the most important agricultural areas in Mexico, where are used large volumes of water. The current panorama of Guanajuato shows an increase of more than three times in the use of groundwater, compared to extraction 30 years ago; this water is used to maximize crop yields; another problem that has increased is the excessive use of nitrogen fertilizers in all the area. This context becomes more serious considering that in the study area, occurs problems of overexploitation, depletion of the piezometric level, presence of deep faults and fractures, coupled with contamination at different levels of the aquifer by nitrogen compounds. The objective of this work is to evaluate the presence of nitrogen compounds at different depths of the aquifer, in addition, to identifying isotopic and hydrogeochemical sources, their transformations and the processes related to the high NO3- content in groundwater. Based on the results obtained from the concentration of NO3-, major, minor chemical elements, trace and isotopes, two sources of pollution have been identified; one related to agriculture and the second to wastewater treatment, This has caused that NO3 content exceed the values allowed by NOM-127, according to the sampling data of 2017 and 2019, not only the shallow aquifer is polluted, also the deep. Two groundwater sampling campaigns were carried out in 32 urban and agricultural wells of the municipalities of Vill and JR in Guanajuato, in rainy and dry season, following national and international methods. Major, minor and some trace elements were determined, as well as stable isotopes. The origin of the high content of NO3- is anthropogenic; the highest values were quantified during the dry season. Nitrates migrate more easily through faults and deep fractures, mainly in the central south zone of the study area to the middle aquifer and possibly to the deep one, this process is relevant since the area is recognized as an impermeable medium due to the presence of large layers of clays. A wastewater treatment plant is a source of contamination, the application of fertilizers would be the other possible source of contamination. The transformation of nitrogen compounds could affect the isotopic behavior of δ18O, although it is not ruled out that it could be due to evaporation processes and infiltration of shallow water. This information should be considered since the presence of nitrates in the environment represents a risk to the health of the population that is supplied by the same aquifer system where these activities take place.
... It is found in nature as tetravalent ions. Th is not oxidized to a similar form of uranyl ion, i.e. a hexavalent state under geological conditions (Adams et al. 1959;Edahbi et al. 2018;Li et al. 2019;Morales-Arredondo et al. 2018). ...
This research presents the theoretical and experimental results in real time and suggests spatial models after reviewing the spatial modelling method, which has an important place in earth sciences. It also reveals the geological and geophysical descriptions of mathematical models, calculations and the ease with which one can interpret the results. U-238, Th-232 and K-40 concentrations are determined in water and bottom sediment samples taken from Keban Lake as a sample study area. The point cumulative semi-variogram (PCSV) method application helps to identify the range, distribution and transport of radionuclide at each sampling station. The well-known semi-variogram (SV) is used in many scientific studies. In this study, the SV methodologies are reviewed leading to the application of the PCSV method for the real-time data. The radionuclide distributions in the lake are revealed by means of ten regional models. In addition, iso-radioactivity maps are obtained to provide an overview of the medium radioactivity with characterizations of the transport, range and distribution of the three radionuclides in the lake.
