Study on evaluation methodology for groundwater flow based on geochemical data; Case study for Horonobe area (Contract research)

Sakai, Ryutaro; Munakata, Masahiro ; Kimura, Hideo

In the safety assessment for a geological disposal of radioactive waste, it is important to establish validation methods for deep groundwater flow system to estimate radionuclide migration to human environment through groundwater flow. This study discussed the method which estimates groundwater mixing condition and groundwater flow process using principal component analysis (PCA) to groundwater chemistry and isotopic compositions, together with data of groundwater age and trace element in case of Horonobe area. The results show that hydrochemical system can be divided into two systems: (1) three deep groundwater mixing system at depths greater than 200 to 400 m, (2) mixing area of deep groundwater and surface water at depths less than 200 to 400 m. Groundwater in the deep aquifer is suggested to be discharged at surface through Omagari Fault.