Distribution of uranium in soils and rocks and its impact on surface water and groundwater quality in uranium mineralized region shahapur taluk Karnataka india

Abstract

Uranium is a common constituent of geological formation in the earth Due to several natural geological processes the U occurring in the rocks are transferred to soil surface water and groundwater A proper hydrogeological study around the mineralised regions before the commencement of mining would help in developing suitable measures for protecting the environment The present study was carried out in one such U mineralised region located in Gogi region Shahapur Karnataka India The study was carried out with the aim of estimating the levels of U in rocks soils surface water and groundwater around the mineralised region identify the relationship between the soil parameters understanding the spatial and temporal variation of major ions trace elements and U in surface water and groundwater and assessing the interaction between surface water and groundwater around the proposed mining site The study was carried out by systematic collection and analysis of rocks soils surface water and groundwater About 7 rock samples 23 soil samples and 100 surface water samples and 831 groundwater samples and 4 fertiliser samples were collected from 2013 to 2016 The soil samples were analysed for Electrical Conductivity pH grain size bulk density particle density porosity calcium carbonate cation exchange capacity distribution coefficient and U whereas the rock samples were analysed for U and distribution coefficient The water samples were analysed for major ion trace elements and U The concentration of U in rocks is around 4 mg/kg whereas its concentration in purple shale is 34 mg/kg The Kd of powdered rock samples varied from 8 l/kg to 354 l/kg The soil occurring at the ground surface of the region are generally of mixed type with an equal proportion of sand silt and clay The Kd of these soils ranges from 7 l/kg to 390 l/kg The Kd of soils was comparatively higher when the pH was less than 6. newline