J. Roger McHenry

Deposition Rates in Valleys Determined Using Fallout Cesium-137

Many of man9s cultural activities have accelerated the deposition of sediment in valleys, yet in most places these rates are low and difficult to measure. Sediment profiles collected in northern Mississippi had a range of deposition rates from 0.9 to 6.5 cm/yr as determined using fallout cesium-137. These deposition rates are similar to rates determined along these same ranges using the survey techniques.

Sediment accumulation in lake chicot, Arkansas

Lake Chicot is an oxbow lake located along the western side of the Mississippi River in southeastern Arkansas. A major flood in 1927, levee construction, land use changes from bottomland hardwood to agriculture, a large increase in drainage area, and stream channelization have altered the appearance of contributing watersheds and the lake. The lake often has high suspended sediment concentrations making it undesirable for recreation and aquatic production. As part of a coordinated study to determine changes in the lake, sediment accumulation patterns and rates were determined in Lake Chicot using the137Cs technique. Major sediment accumulation is occurring near the major inlet and along the thalweg of the oxbow. Average sediment accumulation of 1.8 cm/yr since 1963 was measured for twelve samples. Calculations show sediment accumulation is decreasing. This study has shown that the137Cs technique can provide useful planning information for the environmental geologist or reservoir manager. Results of the current study will be used to develop better sediment and water management strategies for Lake Chicot.

Evaluation of selected cobalt-60 complexes as tracers of groundwater☆

A series of Co-60 compounds, considered as potentially useful tracers of groundwater movement, were prepared and evaluated in soil column and batch studies. The compounds were: potassium hexacyanocobaltate (III), K3Co(CN)6; potassium ethylenediamminetetraacetato-cobaltate (III), KCo(EDTA); ammonium 12-tungstodicobaltoate (III), (NH4)8[Co(II)Co(II)W12O42] · 20 H2O; chloraquotetrammine cobalt (III) chloride, [Co(NH3)4(H2O)Cl]Cl2; and sodium hexanitrocobaltate (III), Na3Co(NO2)6. The performance of K3 60Co(CN)6 and K 60Co EDTA were dependent on their environment and more especially on the type and amount of clay present. The EDTA cobalt complex cannot be used in soils that are basic or where a large fraction of the clay is saturated with Na+ and/or Ca++. Of the other radioactive tracers tested, none were suitable for groundwater tracing because of instability in aqueous solution (Na3Co(NO2)6), variable anionic structure under acid conditions ((NH3)8[Co(II)Co(II)W12O42] · 20 H2O), or preferential uptake by the clay fraction ([Co(NH3)4(H2O)Cl]Cl2).