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Isotope Methods for Dating Old Groundwater
Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 134 (2014) 75
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Journal of Environmental Radioactivity journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jenvrad
Book review
Isotope Methods for Dating Old Groundwater. International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, ISBN: 978-92-0-137210-9 This review is based on a quick perusal and I am providing a bird’s eye view of its content. I approached this book on the point of view that it could be a good source of information and case studies for post-graduate education, and for professionals in the field. The first three chapters depict the overall organization of the book, the scope of the work, and the “why” of groundwater dating. Discussions of the use and limitations of isotopic (radiogenic) methods follow, in the next 6 chapters: Carbon-14, Krypton-81, Chlorine-36, Uranium (particularly the 234e238 disequilibrium), Helium (3H/4H), and finally multitracer approaches to dating. Chapter 10 continues with an overview of flow models, followed by four chapters depicting case studies (Alberta, New Mexico, Northern Australia and Egypt). The book provides a focused and interpreted review of methods which could be used for dating groundwaters. It is well organized and the editors have done a good job to integrate the contributions of the various authors, such that the transition between chapters is fairly fluid. There are cross-references between the chapters. A comprehensive list of references, in order of in-text quotation, is listed at the end for all the chapters. The bulk of the 734 references dates from the 1980’s and 1990’s, with references up to the year 2009. The references include a cross-section of books, scholarly papers and many reports from agencies (e.g., USGS, IAEA). The book departs itself from other reviews by integrating the topics with a few capstone chapters. The first three chapters give some background information about the hydraulic cycle, the range of dating methods, the needs and the why of physical hydrological modelling. Different specialists then give a full discussion of isotopic dating methods by showing the natural origins, how to interpret results and especially how to integrate isotope data with other
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.03.002 0265-931X
modelling, or cross-referencing models from other dating methods. Although the focus is on radiogenic methods, the authors have integrated some aspects of stable isotope geochemistry. In the focused sections dealing with isotope methods, the authors give case studies and guidelines on how to use these methods. The authors clearly show that isotope tracers are a tool, and these tools cannot and should not be used in isolation; rather, mass flow modelling, boundary conditions, etc., are an integral part of dating methods. I do not pretend I understood the contents from cover to cover, especially in the short time I had it for review, but I certainly learned a lot. It is clear that the content is of high level, yet it is not plagued with technical jargon. Mathematical and geochemical equations are given in reasonable detail, and users should consult the original references for the development of these equations. I believe this book would be useful as a go-to reference on the subject for professionals in agencies, and, to some extent, postgraduate education. The way professionals should use the book would be to get an idea of the principles, and to consult the references for the details and the original context (I would also recommend to consult recent references for additional depth on case studies). The isotopic techniques and analysis methods are very specific and specialized, so professionals in agencies could contact the authors (including those in the references) for collaborations. F. Caron* Laurentian University, Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada P3E 2C6 * Tel.:
þ1 705 675 1151; fax: þ1 705 675 4844. E-mail address: [email protected]. Available online 28 March 2014
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Journal of Environmental Radioactivity journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jenvrad
Book review
Isotope Methods for Dating Old Groundwater. International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, ISBN: 978-92-0-137210-9 This review is based on a quick perusal and I am providing a bird’s eye view of its content. I approached this book on the point of view that it could be a good source of information and case studies for post-graduate education, and for professionals in the field. The first three chapters depict the overall organization of the book, the scope of the work, and the “why” of groundwater dating. Discussions of the use and limitations of isotopic (radiogenic) methods follow, in the next 6 chapters: Carbon-14, Krypton-81, Chlorine-36, Uranium (particularly the 234e238 disequilibrium), Helium (3H/4H), and finally multitracer approaches to dating. Chapter 10 continues with an overview of flow models, followed by four chapters depicting case studies (Alberta, New Mexico, Northern Australia and Egypt). The book provides a focused and interpreted review of methods which could be used for dating groundwaters. It is well organized and the editors have done a good job to integrate the contributions of the various authors, such that the transition between chapters is fairly fluid. There are cross-references between the chapters. A comprehensive list of references, in order of in-text quotation, is listed at the end for all the chapters. The bulk of the 734 references dates from the 1980’s and 1990’s, with references up to the year 2009. The references include a cross-section of books, scholarly papers and many reports from agencies (e.g., USGS, IAEA). The book departs itself from other reviews by integrating the topics with a few capstone chapters. The first three chapters give some background information about the hydraulic cycle, the range of dating methods, the needs and the why of physical hydrological modelling. Different specialists then give a full discussion of isotopic dating methods by showing the natural origins, how to interpret results and especially how to integrate isotope data with other
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2014.03.002 0265-931X
modelling, or cross-referencing models from other dating methods. Although the focus is on radiogenic methods, the authors have integrated some aspects of stable isotope geochemistry. In the focused sections dealing with isotope methods, the authors give case studies and guidelines on how to use these methods. The authors clearly show that isotope tracers are a tool, and these tools cannot and should not be used in isolation; rather, mass flow modelling, boundary conditions, etc., are an integral part of dating methods. I do not pretend I understood the contents from cover to cover, especially in the short time I had it for review, but I certainly learned a lot. It is clear that the content is of high level, yet it is not plagued with technical jargon. Mathematical and geochemical equations are given in reasonable detail, and users should consult the original references for the development of these equations. I believe this book would be useful as a go-to reference on the subject for professionals in agencies, and, to some extent, postgraduate education. The way professionals should use the book would be to get an idea of the principles, and to consult the references for the details and the original context (I would also recommend to consult recent references for additional depth on case studies). The isotopic techniques and analysis methods are very specific and specialized, so professionals in agencies could contact the authors (including those in the references) for collaborations. F. Caron* Laurentian University, Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada P3E 2C6 * Tel.:
þ1 705 675 1151; fax: þ1 705 675 4844. E-mail address: [email protected]. Available online 28 March 2014