ESTABLISHING A PRE-FRACKING DATABASE IN THE DEEP RIVER TRIASSIC BASIN, NC

This study is part of an ongoing investigation into geochemical and isotopic groundwater variability before hydraulic fracturing occurs in the Sanford sub-basin of the Deep River Triassic Basin located in Lee County, North Carolina. A previous component of this study completed in 2012 used ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr as a groundwater tracer using samples of well water. Isotopic analysis of the samples produced a narrow range of strontium isotopic ratios and had a minor correlation with geographic area. Consequently, this study utilizes the Sr isotopic composition in an effort to continue the pre-fracking database and document the variation in the water chemistry that happens over time. In addition, samples from the previous study were re-analyzed for Pb isotopic composition to test its effectiveness as a groundwater tracer as well. Sr and Pb isotopic analysis of samples will continue until hydraulic fracturing occurs in the area, if it occurs at all.