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Radionuclides

Radioactivity - Naturally Occuring in Rock, Soil and Water

statewide compilation of radioactivity, 2002Radionuclides in the Champlain Valley have been documented in primary sedimentary layers, plus as secondary coatings along fractures (McKeown, 1951 and Whitten, 1988). Bedrock mapping in the Colchester quadrangle (Kim and Thompson, 2002) focused in an area where domestic wells exceeded gross alpha standards. Detailed mapping, structural analysis, and geochemistry provided broad-based understanding of the radionuclide problem and serves as a prototype for future analysis throughout the State of Vermont.

A statewide compilation of radioactivity data  (including uranium and thorium) and an accompanying Radioactivity Map Fact Sheet were completed by Kim (OFR VG2002-1).  The map is a compilation of areas where ground-based and airborne geophysical and geological surveys have indicated the presence of elevated naturally occurring radioactivity relative to surrounding areas. Public water supplies with gross alpha radioactivity equal to or greater than 15 picocuries/liter and uranium occurrences are also shown. Elevated radioactivity areas determined via these surveys in the Milton-Colchester  (Plate 4) area coincide with many of the locations of domestic groundwater wells with elevated radioactivity. 

Gross Alpha Radiation and Drinking Water (Health Dept)

Regional Compilation of  Sources of Groundwater Contamination (arsenic and radionuclides), (Kim, 2014, Poster for west-central VT)

Radon and Geology
 

 

Related Publications

Kim, J., Ryan, P.C., Klepeis, K., Gleeson, T., North, K.*, Bean, J.*, Davis, L.*, Filoon, J.*, 2014,  Ordovician thrust fault controls hydrogeology and geochemistry of a bedrock aquifer system in NW Vermont: northeastern Appalachian foreland: Geofluids 14, 266-290. DOI: 10.1111/gfl.12076.

Kim, J., Springston, G., and Charnock, R., 2009, Bedrock control on surficial deposits and groundwater issues in part of the Knox Mtn granite, NE VT: VGS Open File Report VG09-9 (poster). 

Walsh, G.J. and Satkoski, A.M., 2005, Surface gamma-ray survey of the Barre West quadrangle, Washington and Orange Counites, Vermont: USGS Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5276, 19 p.

Ratte, C. and Vanacek, D.,  Eds., 1980, Radioactivity Map of Vermont, scale 1:250,000: Vermont Geological Survey General Interest Publication.

Abstracts

Radionuclides, Groundwater Chemistry, and Hydrogeology Above, Below, and Through the Hinesburg Thrust: Kim, et al, 2009,GSA Abs with Prog, v. 41, #3.

Radionuclide-enriched groundwater, Knox Mountain pluton, Vermont: occurrence and lithologic controls: Gleason et al, 2007,GSA Abss with Prog, v. 39 #1.

Lithologic control on naturally occurring radioactivity and ground water chemistry across the Richardson Memorial Contact, central VT: Kim,  et al, 2005, GSA Abs. with Prog., v. 37 #1.

Evaluation of Geologic Controls on Elevated Naturally-Occurring Radioactivity in Bedrock Ground Water Wells, NW Vermont: North, et al, 2005, GSA Abs with Prog, v. 37 #1.

Geologic Context of Elevated Radionuclide Occurrences in NW Vermont: Kim and Becker, 2001, GSA Abs with Prog, v. 33.