A method to estimate hydraulic conductivity from bulk geochemical compositions

A new method has been developed to estimate the hydraulic conductivity in unconsolidated aquifers. The method uses bulk geochemical compositions correlated with hydraulic conductivities measured by pumping tests. The concept is based on a general rule that hydraulic conductivity is principally controlled by grain-size distribution and particle shape,both of which relate to mineralogical composition. Using a MINLITH algorithm, normative mineralogical compositions can be derived from bulk geochemical compositions economically and expediently, and then correlated to the hydraulic conductivity determined by pumping tests in the field. In this study, 202 sediment samples from nine unconsolidated aquifers were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence. Although hydraulic conductivity does not show a definite relationship with geochemical compositions, it does demonstrate a linear logarithmic equation to the content of normative earthy minerals. However, linear regressed equations should not be applied to aquifers composed of medium to coarse sand and gravel sizes due to interference from lithic fragments. In addition, this equation tends to overestimate hydraulic conductivity possibly because the effect of compaction is ignored in this study.