The Journal of Engineering Geology (지질공학)

The Korean Society of Engineering Geology (대한지질공학회)
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Geochemical Occurrence of Uranium and Radon-222 in Groundwater at Test Borehole Site in the Daejeon area

대전지역 시험용 시추공 지하수내 우라늄 및 라돈-222의 지화학적 산출특성

  • 정찬호 (대전대학교 지반방재공학과) ;
  • 유근석 (대전대학교 지반방재공학과) ;
  • 김문수 (국립환경과학원 토양지하수연구과) ;
  • 김태승 (국립환경과학원 토양지하수연구과) ;
  • 한진석 (국립환경과학원 토양지하수연구과) ;
  • 조병욱 (한국지질자원연구원)
  • Received : 2013.06.07
  • Accepted : 2013.06.25
  • Published : 2013.06.30
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Abstract

A drilling project was undertaken to characterize the geochemical relationship and the occurrence of radioactive materials at a test site among public-use groundwaters previously known to have high occurrence of uranium and radon-222 in the Daejeon area. A borehole (121 m deep) was drilled and core rocks mainly consist of two-mica granite, and associated with pegmatite and dykes of intermediate composition. The groundwater samples collected at six different depths in the borehole by a double-packed system showed the pH values ranging from neutral to alkaline (7.10-9.3), and electrical conductivity ranging from 263 to 443 ${\mu}S/cm$. The chemical composition of the borehole groundwaters was of the $Ca-HCO_3(SO_4+Cl)$ type. The uranium and Rn-222 contents in the groundwater were 109-1,020 ppb and 9,190-32,800 pCi/L, respectively. These levels exceed the regulation guidelines of US EPA. The zone of the highest groundwater uranium content occurred at depths of 45 to 55m. The groundwater chemistry in this zone (alkaline, oxidated, and high in bicarbonate) is favorable for the dissolution of uranium into groundwater. The dominant uranium complex in groundwater is likely to be $(UO_2CO_3)^0$ or $(UO_2HCO_3)^+$. Radon-222 content in groundwater shows an increasing trend with depth. The uranium and thorium contents in the core were 0.372-47.42 ppm and 0.388-11.22 ppm, respectively. These levels are higher values than those previously been reported in Korea. Microscopic observations and electron microprobe analysis(EPMA) revealed that the minerals containing U and Th are monazite, apatite, epidote, and feldspar. U and Th in these minerals are likely to substitute for major elements in crystal lattice.

본 연구는 대전지역 기존 지하수중 우라늄 및 라돈-222와 같은 자연방사성 물질의 농도가 높은 것으로 알려진 한 지점을 선정하여 121 m 심도의 연구용 시추공을 확보하여 심도별 지하수내 우라늄 및 라돈-222의 산출특성 밝히고, 시추코어를 이용하여 우라늄의 기원에 대한 지화학적 상관성을 알아보고자 하였다. 이를 위하여 더블패커를 이용하여 시추공내 심도별로 6개 지하수 시료를 채취하여 화학성분 분석, 우라늄과 라돈-222의 함량을 분석하였다. 분석결과 지하수의 pH는 중성내지는 알카리성이며, 화학성분상 $Ca-HCO_3(SO_4+Cl)$ 유형에 속한다. 그리고 우라늄과 라돈-222의 농도는 각각 169~1,020 ppb와 $9,190{\pm}96{\sim}32,800{\pm}180$ pCi/L를 보여 심도별 뚜렷한 농도차이를 보이며, 모두 미국 EPA 권고치를 초과하였다. 지하수내 우라늄은 지하 45~50m 심도에서 가장 높은 함량을 보인다. 이 구간 지하수는 약알카리성의 산환환경이며 높은 $HCO_3$의 함량으로 우라늄 용존에 유리한 환경으로 보인다. 지하수내 우라늄의 형태는 우라닐탄산염화합물{$(UO_2CO_3)^0$ 혹은 $(UO_2HCO_3)^+$}이 우세한 것으로 보인다. 라돈-222 함량은 심도가 깊어질수록 증가하는 경향을 보인다. 시추코어에 의한 지질주상도특성을 보면 모암은 복운모화강암이며 페그마타이트가 수 곳에서 확인되었고, 중성질 암맥이 100 m 내외에서 확인되었다. 암석내 우라늄과 토륨의 함량은 0.372~47.4 ppm과 0.388~11.2 ppm의 범위를 보여 기존 국내에서 보고된 함량보다 높은 값을 보인다. 암석현미경 관찰 및 전자현미분석결과 방사성원소를 함유하는 광물로는 장석과 흑운모내 포획된 모자나이트, 인회석, 녹염석 광물로 확인되었으며, 광물내 주요성분을 치환하여 주로 존재한다.

Keywords

References

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