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TECHNICAL NOTES

Scale Dependence of the Effective Matrix Diffusion Coefficient: Some Analytical Results

^a Earth Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA
^b Dep. of Environmental Engineering and Science, Clemson Univ., Clemson, SC
^* Corresponding author (hhliu{at}lbl.gov).

ABSTRACT

Matrix diffusion is an important process affecting solute transport in fractured rock, and the matrix diffusion coefficient is a key parameter for describing this process. Previous studies have indicated that effective matrix diffusion coefficient values obtained from a number of field tracer tests are enhanced in comparison with local values and may increase with test scale. In this communication, we develop analytical expressions for the effective matrix diffusion coefficient for two simple fracture–matrix systems and demonstrate that heterogeneities in the rock matrix at different scales may contribute to the scale dependence of the effective matrix diffusion coefficient.