HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (3) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Reid, K. D. Articles by Hickmott, D. D. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Reid, K. D. Articles by Hickmott, D. D. GeoRef GeoRef Citation Agricola Articles by Reid, K. D. Articles by Hickmott, D. D. Related Collections Fate Vadose Zone Processes and Chemical Transport Other Environmental Contamination

SPECIAL SECTION: LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY

Barium and High Explosives in a Semiarid Alluvial System, Cañon de Valle, New Mexico

^a TerranearPMC, 1911 Central Ave., Los Alamos, NM 87544
^b Environmental Geology and Spatial Analysis Group, MS-D452, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545
^c Atmospheric Climate and Environmental Dynamics Group, MS-J495, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545
^d Hydrology, Geochemistry, and Geology Group, MS-D462, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545
^* Corresponding author (kreid{at}terranearpmc.com)

Received 7 December 2004.

Concentrations and distributions of Ba, a component of the high explosive baritol, and RDX (hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine), a high explosive, were evaluated from 1996 to 2002 within a semiarid alluvial system in Cañon de Valle, New Mexico. A high explosive machining facility discharged effluent containing these chemicals to the canyon from 1951 to 1996. The connectivity between alluvial groundwater, surface water, and sediment was specifically addressed to understand the distributions and dynamics of Ba and RDX in the alluvial system. Surface water, groundwater, and sediment were characterized by conducting hydrologic measurements, geomorphic mapping, and collecting samples. Barium and RDX in sediment preferentially reside in fine-grained deposits that represent the suspended load redeposited on floodplains following channel scour. However, RDX and Ba show markedly different behaviors in surface water and alluvial groundwater because of contrasting geochemical characteristics and transport mechanisms. Barium precipitates in sediments as barite and witherite and readily sorbs to sediment minerals. Therefore, sediment transport is an important control on its distribution in the canyon. In contrast, RDX appears to occur predominantly in the dissolved phase, behaves conservatively, and is most significant in groundwater. There is a strong correlation between RDX concentrations in water and the saturated thickness of the alluvial aquifer. During prolonged wet periods, the alluvial aquifer enlarges, causing more RDX to be mobilized within the alluvial system. Subsurface processes in the alluvial aquifer are therefore most important in controlling present RDX transport, whereas surface processes associated with floods are most important in controlling Ba transport.

Abbreviations: AW, alluvial well • bgs, below ground surface • FOC, fraction of organic C • LANL, Los Alamos National Laboratory • SEM, scanning electron microscopy • SP, stream profile • TA, Technical Area • XRF, X-ray fluorescence

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. D. Newman, D. D. Hickmott, and P. Gram Flow and High Explosives Transport in a Semiarid Mesa in New Mexico, USA Vadose Zone J., October 8, 2007; 6(4): 774 - 785. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. D. Newman and B. A. Robinson The Hydrogeology of Los Alamos National Laboratory: Site History and Overview of Vadose Zone and Groundwater Issues Vadose Zone J., August 16, 2005; 4(3): 614 - 619. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]