Mobile sediment in an urbanizing karst aquifer: implications for contaminant transport
Files
Download Full Text
Publication Date
January 1999
Abstract
Here we investigate geochemical characteristics of sediment in different compartments of a karst aquifer and demonstrate that mobile sediments in a karst aquifer can exhibit a wide range of properties affecting their contaminant transport potential. Sediment samples were collected from surface streams, sinkholes, caves, wells, and springs of a karst aquifer (the Barton Springs portion of the Edwards (Balcones Fault Zone) Aquifer, Central Texas) and their mineralogy, grain-size distribution, organic carbon content, and specific surface area analyzed. Statistical analysis of the sediments separated the sampling sites into three distinct groups: (1) streambeds, sinkholes, and small springs; (2) wells; and (3) caves. Sediments from the primary discharge spring were a mix of these three groups. High organic carbon content and high specific surface area gives some sediments an increased potential to transport contaminants; the volume of these sediments is likely to increase with continued urbanization of the watershed.
Keywords
Karst, Sediment, Contaminant Transport
Document Type
Article
Language
English
Notes
Environmental Geology, Vol. 39, no. 1 (1999).
Identifier
SFS0071482_00001
Recommended Citation
Mahler, B. J.; Lynch, L.; and Bennett, P. C., "Mobile sediment in an urbanizing karst aquifer: implications for contaminant transport" (1999). KIP Articles. 3523.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/kip_articles/3523