Paper No. 7
Presentation Time: 9:00 AM-6:00 PM

AN ISOTOPIC PERSPECTIVE ON WATER AND CARBON SOURCES IN COMPLEX GEOCHEMICAL SETTINGS OF THE APPALACHIANS


SACK, Andrea L., Geology and Geography, West Virgina University, 330 Brooks Hall, 98 Beechurst Ave, Morgantown, WV 26505 and SHARMA, Shikha, Geology and Geography, West Virginia University, 330 Brooks Hall, 98 Beechurst Avenue, Morgantown, WV 26506, as8324@gmail.com

Understanding sources of water and carbon are important for tracking recharge sources as well as assessing any changes in water quality associated with shale gas drilling and/or coal mining in the Appalachians. Natural stable isotopes have become an increasing tool for determining sources and cycling of water, carbon, nutrients and other trace elements. The variations in water-rock interactions, recharge sources, recharge pathways, and age can impart unique isotopic signatures to different water sources. The main objectives of this study was to use stable isotopes of water (δ18OH2O and δ2H H2O), DIC (δ13CDIC) and SO4 34SSO4 and δ18OSO4) to delineate sources of water and carbon in natural springs, coal mine discharges and brines produced during Marcellus Shale gas drilling in the Appalachian region. The natural spring sites are located in southwestern Pennsylvania, southeastern West Virginia and southwestern Virginia; the mine discharge and produced brine sampling sites are located southern Pennsylvania. Preliminary data indicates that stable isotopes can be used in conjunction with routine geochemistry to understand sources of carbon and water at each site as well as understanding any biogeochemical transformations that lead to isotopic fractionation.