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Science 30 April 1982:
Vol. 216. no. 4545, pp. 512 - 514
DOI: 10.1126/science.216.4545.512
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Articles

Radionuclides in Mono Lake, California

H. J. SIMPSON 1, R. M. TRIER 1, J. R. TOGGWEILER 1, G. MATHIEU 1, B. L. DECK 1, C. R. OLSEN 1, D. E. HAMMOND 2, C. FULLER 2, and T. L. KU 2

1 Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory and Department of Geological Sciences, Columbia University, Palisades, New York 10964
2 Department of Geological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90007

Several radioisotopes of the naturally occurring uranium and thorium decay series, in addition to fallout plutonium, have unusually high concentrations in the water column of Mono Lake, a natural alkaline, saline lake. Complexing by carbonate ions appears to be responsible for the enhanced solubility of actinide elements with oxidation states of IV to VI. In contrast, fallout strontium-90 has been largely removed from the water, probably as a result of coprecipitation with calcium carbonate. The daughter/parent activity ratios of thorium, radium, and uranium isotopes suggest that thorium is removed from the water column to the sediments on time scales substantially longer than a month and that the desorption of thorium from the sediments to the water column requires less than a few years.

Submitted on November 16, 1981
Revised on December 29, 1981


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
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Plutonium Speciation in Water from Mono Lake, California.
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Elevated Concentrations of Actinides in Mono Lake.
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