Prospecting fractured rock aquifers using radon soil gases method

Published
2017-05-30
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14295/ras.v31i3.28810
Keywords: Radon. Fractured Aquifers. Resistivity. Radônio. Aquíferos Fraturados. Resistividade.

    Authors

  • Paulo Henrique Prado Stefano Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
  • Ari Roisenberg Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
  • José Domingos Faraco Gallas Universidade de São Paulo
  • Zildete Rocha Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear

Abstract

Groundwater prospecting  in fractured aquifers depends on the detection of tectonic lineaments, which may be difficult in urban areas.  A survey was carried out using radon soil gases concentrations in four localities in the region of Granite Santana and Viamão Granite, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, in order to test the method for water prospecting in fractured aquifers. The radon data have been compared with electrical resistivity survey executed using dipole-dipole arrangement. At four studied areas, an interesting correlation was noted between the two methods. At regions of low resistivity, positive radon anomalies were found in fracture zones, reaching values up to 7 times the background of the region, starting from a concentration value of 2500 Bq/m3 in a non-fractured zones to 22187 Bq /m3 in the fractured zones.

How to Cite
Stefano, P. H. P., Roisenberg, A., Gallas, J. D. F., & Rocha, Z. (2017). Prospecting fractured rock aquifers using radon soil gases method. Águas Subterrâneas, 31(3), 168–180. https://doi.org/10.14295/ras.v31i3.28810