Characterization of Aliwal North Hotspring in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, using Magnetic, Electromagnetic and Radiometric Methods
| Autor: | C. Baiyegunhi, N. W. Mupandawana, T. L. Oloniniyi, O. Gwavava |
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| Rok vydání: | 2014 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | IOSR Journal of Engineering. :43-058 |
| ISSN: | 2250-3021 2278-8719 |
| Popis: | Magnetic, electromagnetic and radiometric survey were conductedalong two profilelines that traverses Aliwal North spa using two G-859SX portable cesium vapor magnetometer, EM34-3 terrain conductivity meter and a RS-125 spectrometer, respectively. This was undertaken in order to characterise Aliwal North hot spring by revealing magnetic signatures, buried conductive bodies and determine the concentration/relative abundance of radioactive elements, like U, K and Th (in cpm, ppm and %). The magnetic result reveal signature with amplitude of about 0.4 nT,which is inferred to be a real feature extending to depth. The EM result showsmajor anomaly in the southeastern part of the studyarea. This anomaly is associated with rocks with highconductivity and occurring to a depth of about 30 m through which the highly mineralized hot water could have migrated to the surface. There is no traceable recent volcanic activity in the area and due to the deep seated faults in the survey site, it was inferred that Aliwal thermal spring is of meteoric origin and the source of the heat is due to the deep circulation along the major fault zones. The radiometric result reveals that thorium is the most abundant radioelements with concentration that isless than the world average hazardous threshold (7.4 ppm).The concentration of the radioactive elements is relatively low and acceptable for groundwater; however it could be harmful to humans’health, as well as animals when exposed to the radiation or consumed over a long period of time. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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