Date of Award
Summer 8-18-2010
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Geosciences
First Advisor
W. Crawford Elliott
Second Advisor
J. Marion Wampler
Third Advisor
Seth E. Rose
Fourth Advisor
Daniel M. Deocampo
Fifth Advisor
Eirik J. Krogstad
Abstract
Understanding how natural Cs, Rb, and K have been redistributed in Savannah River Site (SRS) soils during pedogenesis is important to understanding how radiocesium released to the soils will behave over the long term. In this effort, it is important to distinguish K that has participated in mineral-water reactions from that still residing in primary silicate structures, particularly in the clay fraction. The impact of different degrees of acid extraction on K and radiogenic Ar in bulk soil and in clay from five SRS soil samples has been determined. Strong treatment (50% HNO3, three hours, 100°C) releases K from primary minerals, as shown also by a concomitant release of radiogenic Ar, but a more moderate treatment (6% HNO3, three hours, 80°C) does not release K. K in the clay fraction is mostly nonexchangeable K in remnants of primary mica, and clay K-Ar age values near 300 Ma indicate the mica originated in the Appalachian mountain belt.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/1406288
Recommended Citation
Naumann, Thomas E., "K-Ar Age Values of Bulk Soil Samples and Clay Fractions: Effects of Acid Extraction and Implications for the Origin of Micaceous Clay in Savannah River Site Soils, South Carolina, USA." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2010.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/1406288