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Occurrence and Hydrogeochemistry of Radiochemical Constituents in Groundwater of Jefferson County and Surrounding Areas, Southwestern Montana, 2007 Through 2010

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Occurrence and Hydrogeochemistry of Radiochemical Constituents in Groundwater of Jefferson County and Surrounding Areas, Southwestern Montana, 2007 Through 2010 Prepared in cooperation with Jefferson County and the Jefferson Valley Conservation District, Montana Occurrence and Hydrogeochemistry of Radiochemical Constituents in Groundwater of Jefferson County and Surrounding Areas, Southwestern Montana, 2007 through 2010 Scientific Investigations Report 2013–5235 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover photograph. Exposure of Boulder batholith near Clancy, Montana, January 20, 2014. Photograph by Darcie J. Caldwell. Occurrence and Hydrogeochemistry of Radiochemical Constituents in Groundwater of Jefferson County and Surrounding Areas, Southwestern Montana, 2007 through 2010 By Rodney R. Caldwell, David A. Nimick, and Rainie M. DeVaney Prepared in cooperation with Jefferson County and the Jefferson Valley Conservation District, Montana Scientific Investigations Report 2013–5235 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior SALLY JEWELL, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Suzette M. Kimball, Acting Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2014 For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment, visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS. For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod To order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also may contain copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner. Suggested citation: Caldwell, R.R., Nimick, D.A., and DeVaney, R.M., 2014, Occurrence and hydroHFPchemistry of radiochemical constituents in groundwater of Jefferson County and surrounding areas, southwestern Montana, 2007 through 2010: U.S. Geologi- cal Survey Investigations Report 2013–5235, 58 p., plus appendixes, http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20135235. ISSN 2328-031X (print) ISSN 2328-0328 (online) ISBN 987–1–4113-3792–3 iii Contents Acknowledgments .........................................................................................................................................x Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................2 Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................2 General Radiochemistry ......................................................................................................................4 Drinking-Water Standards and Potential Health Effects ...............................................................6 Description of Study Area ...................................................................................................................7 Hydrogeologic Framework .........................................................................................................8 Methods.........................................................................................................................................................12 Sampling Network ..............................................................................................................................12 Sample Collection and Analysis .......................................................................................................13 Reporting of Results ...........................................................................................................................15 Quality-Control Sample Collection and Data Analysis .................................................................16 Statistical Analysis .............................................................................................................................16 General Chemistry .......................................................................................................................................17 Quality Assurance Results of Major Ions .......................................................................................17 Occurrence and Distribution of Radiochemical Constituents in Groundwater .................................19 Quality Assurance Results of Radionuclides .................................................................................22 Uranium ................................................................................................................................................22 Radon ....................................................................................................................................................25 Gross Alpha-Particle Activity ...........................................................................................................25 Gross Beta-Particle Activity .............................................................................................................30 Radium ..................................................................................................................................................33 Polonium-210 .......................................................................................................................................33 Hydrogeochemistry of Radiochemical Constituents in Groundwater ................................................33 Uranium ................................................................................................................................................40 Radon ....................................................................................................................................................40 Gross Alpha-Particle Activity ...........................................................................................................40 Gross Beta-Particle Activity .............................................................................................................43 Radium ..................................................................................................................................................43 Polonium-210 .......................................................................................................................................47 Temporal Variation of Radionuclides ...............................................................................................47 Implications of Radionuclide Occurrence ...............................................................................................48 Summary........................................................................................................................................................49 References Cited..........................................................................................................................................51 Glossary .........................................................................................................................................................55 Appendixes 1–8 ............................................................................................................................................59 iv Figures 1. Map showing location of study area and sampled wells in Jefferson County and surrounding areas, Montana ......................................................................................................3 2. Diagram showing uranium-238 and thorium-232 radioactive decay series .......................5 3. Map showing generalized geology of Jefferson County and surrounding areas, Montana .......................................................................................................................................10 4. Diagram showing a generalized groundwater flow system ................................................11 5. Map showing magnitude and distribution of uranium concentrations in groundwater samples from Jefferson County and surrounding areas, Montana, 1976 through 2011 .......................................................................................................................23 6. Boxplots showing uranium concentrations in groundwater samples from Jefferson County and surrounding areas, Montana, 2007 through 2010 ...........................24 7. Map showing magnitude and distribution of radon concentrations in groundwater samples from Jefferson County and surrounding areas, Montana, 1992–2011 .....................................................................................................................................26 8. Boxplot showing radon concentrations in groundwater samples from Jefferson County and surrounding areas, Montana, 2007 through 2010 .............................................27 9. Boxplots showing gross alpha-particle activity in groundwater samples from Jefferson County and surrounding areas, Montana, 2007 through 2010 ...........................28 10. Graph showing relation between gross alpha-particle activity at 72-hour and 30-day counts in groundwater samples from Jefferson County and surrounding areas, Montana, 2007 through 2010 .........................................................................................29
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