Uranium Disequilibrium in Groundwater: An Isotope Dilution Approach in Hydrologic Investigations

Abstract

The distribution and environmental disequilibrium patterns of naturally occurring uranium isotopes (U(234) and U(238)) in waters of the Floridan aquifer suggest that variations in the ratios of isotopic activity and concentrations can be used quantitatively to evaluate mixing proportions of waters from differing sources. Uranium is probably unique in its potential for this approach, which seems to have general usefulness in hydrologic investigations.