Diffusion as the main process for mass transport in very low water content argillites: 2. Fluid flow and mass transport modeling

Abstract

On the basis of chloride concentrations of pore water in the Tournemire massif (part 1), a conceptual model for mass transport in argillites by diffusion is proposed. From this conceptual model and current knowledge of the geological history of the massif, one-dimensional numerical simulations are formulated for chloride transport in Tournemire massif over the past 53 Ma. Good agreement between experimental data and calculated values for both diffusion coefficients and concentrations of chloride confirms that diffusion is the main process for mass transport in the massif. This model is also tested using deuterium contents of pore water, applying variable concentrations to meteoric water (circulating in system boundary layers) based on the thermal dependency of its isotopic composition. These simulations reveal the likely important role of lithologic heterogeneities, such as fractures, in the horizontal distribution of tracer concentrations.