Uranium isotopes in groundwater from the "Jeffara coastal aquifer" (southeastern Tunisia)

Abstract

The distributions of (238)U and (234)U in groundwater from the "Jeffara aquifer" were studied by using alpha spectrometric methods. The concentration ranges of (238)U and (234)U/(238)U activity ratios were 1.34 +/- 0.17 to 3.43 +/- 0.38 ppb, and 1.43 +/- 0.23 to 1.82 +/- 0.27 respectively. Variations in concentrations can be related not only to lithostratigraphic formations but also to different origins of groundwater. U content of Jeffara are found very similar to those of Continental Intercalaire aquifer in both El Hamma and Chenchou regions, indicating that the Continental Intercalaire is the dominant source of the groundwater.