Formation mechanism of deep groundwater at the Xinchang site of high-level radioactive waste geological disposal in China

• Published in: Journal of radioanalytical and nuclear chemistry Vol. 332; no. 4; pp. 897 - 905
• Main Authors: Zhou, Zhichao, Wang, Ju, Su, Rui, Guo, Yonghai, Li, Jiebiao, Zhao, Jingbo, Zhang, Ming, Ji, Ruili, Li, Yanan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.04.2023; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Diagnostic Radiology; Groundwater; Hadrons; Hazardous waste management industry; Heavy Ions; High level radioactive wastes; Hydrogeology; Inorganic Chemistry; Nuclear Chemistry; Nuclear Physics; Permeability; Physical Chemistry; Radioactive pollution; Radioactive waste disposal; Radioactive waste sites; Radioactive wastes; Repositories; Water, Underground; High-level radioactive waste; Isotopic dating; Safety assessment; Deep groundwater
• ISSN: 0236-5731; 1588-2780
• DOI: 10.1007/s10967-022-08697-0

The formation mechanism of deep groundwater is a key issue for the safety assessment of the high-level radioactive waste repository. The circulation characteristics and age of deep groundwater at the Xinchang site were characterized. The results show that the permeability of the deep parts of the faults at the site is low and the scale is small. Deep groundwater did not undergo deep circulation. The 14 C age of the deep groundwater was approximately 13.2 ka, and the deep groundwater circulation renewal rate was very slow. Therefore, the hydrogeological conditions at the site are beneficial to the selection of the site as a repository.