| The study of geochemical processes and integrated water flow can help identify groundwater sources and improve predictions of contaminant fate and transport in groundwater systems. Understanding groundwater flow paths in and around the Nevada Test Site (NTS) is important due to the possible migration of contaminated groundwater to the neighboring communities.; Harry Reid Center collected a total of 118 samples from the NTS and surrounding area (e.g., Oasis Valley, Ash Meadows, Death Valley, the Spring Mountains, and Pahranagat Valley) and analyzed for trace elements and major solutes. Cluster analysis and Principal Component Analysis (PCA), along with basic Geographical Information Systems, were used to interpret the hydrogeochemical data in the Death Valley Regional Flow System. Cluster analysis grouped the data into four major clusters and PCA reduced the data into three components describing ionic strength differences, volcanic and carbonate differences, and redox characteristics. Twelve potential flow paths were recognized. |
