title: Surface water geochemical and isotopic variations in an area of accelerating Marcellus Shale gas development.
abstract: Water samples were collected from 50 streams in an area of accelerating shale gas development in the eastern U.S.A. The geochemical/isotopic characteristics show no correlation with the five categories of Marcellus Shale production. The sub-watersheds with the greatest density of Marcellus Shale development have also undergone extensive coal mining. Hence, geochemical/isotopic compositions were used to understand sources of salinity and effects of coal mining and shale gas development in the area. The data indicates that while some streams appear to be impacted by mine drainage; none appear to have received sustained contribution from deep brines or produced waters associated with shale gas production. However, it is important to note that our interpretations are based on one time synoptic base flow sampling of a few sampling stations and hence do account potential intermittent changes in chemistry that may result from major/minor spills or specific mine discharges on the surface water chemistry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geology and Geography, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
authors.forename: Adam J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Pelak
authors.affiliation: Department of Geology and Geography, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA. Electronic address: shikha.sharma@mail.wvu.edu.
authors.forename: Shikha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D003032:Coal Mining; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D061329:Oil and Gas Fields; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D012492:Salts / Q000032:analysis; D014481:United States; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D012492:Salts; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C017082:brine
keywords: Coal mine drainage; Geochemistry; Marcellus Shale; Produced water; Stable isotopes