Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 September 2012
The sorption of sodium (22Na), calcium (45Ca) and strontium (85Sr) was studied on mica gneiss, unaltered, moderately altered and strongly altered tonalite samples taken from hole SY-KR7 drilled in the Syyry area in Sievi, Western Finland. The crushed rock samples were sieved into six fractions from 71 μm to 1250 μm. A proportional mineral composition for the different fractions were estimated by X-ray diffraction. The specific fraction surface areas were determined by the BET nitrogen adsorption method. The fractal method was applied to characterize rocks and to describe quantitatively surface irregularity. The mass distribution ratio values for each fraction were determined using the static batch method. The sorption of tracers onto different minerals was observed using rock thin sections. Kd-values calculated from thin section Ka-values and Kd revalues obtained from batch experiments were in good agreement. Mass distribution ratios for different size fractions are given, and the effect of the specific surface area is discussed. Owing to larger specific surface areas considerably higher sorption on smaller fractions was found for altered tonalites.