ROZWÓJ METODY JEDNOCZESNEGO POMIARU STĘŻENIA HELU, ARGONU ORAZ NEONU DO DATOWANIA WÓD PODZIEMNYCH

Abstract

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SIMULTANEOUS METHOD OF HELIUM, ARGON AND NEON MEASUREMENTS FOR THE GROUNDWATER DATINGAbstract. In this paper the authors present a chromatographic method for simultaneous analysis of helium, neon and argon in groundwater from one water sample. Water samples are taken to the stainless steel vessels with a capacity of 2,900 cm3. Gases are extracted from water by headspace method (HS). Helium, neon and argon are analyzed on two gas chromatographs equipped with capillary and packed columns and three thermo-conductive detectors (TCD). The concentration of helium in groundwater may be a good environmental tracer for groundwater dating. Proper use of environmental tracers in hydrogeology for dating purpose, requires the knowledge of recharge temperature of the system and the so-called “Excess air”. “Excess air” allows for the necessary correction of measured concentration of helium in water. Both parameters can be determined by measuring the concentration of argon and neon in groundwater. Developed chromatographic method was applied to groundwater dating from areas of Podhalańska Basin, Kraków and Żarnowiec.