Relation between colloid composition and the environment of their formation: application to the El Berrocal site (Spain)

In the framework of nuclear waste topics, the role of colloids is more and more emphasized in relation to the transport of radioelements in natural groundwaters. We attempt here to check if the nature and physico-chemical characteristics of the colloids from the granitic site of El Berrocal are closely related to the bedrock composition. The colloids are studied in three types of groundwaters (sulfate and carbonate waters in different redox conditions) as well as colloidal suspensions extracted from clayey materials present in the fractures. The particle size distributions are performed by photon correlation spectroscopy. Their chemical composition is obtained by X-ray microanalysis after transversal ultrafiltration. The main results deal with the chemical composition of colloids. They are mainly composed of silica, aluminosilicate phases, and Fe, Ti, Al oxyhydroxides. In the case of the carbonate and oxidized hydrofacies, traces of Mg, Cu, Zn, Ba, S as well as carbonate phases (Zn, Ca) occur. In the particular case of the sulfate hydrofacies, traces of S, Mg, Cu are identified. Finally in the less oxidized and carbonate groundwater, a lot of phases consist of sulphur with Cu, Zn, Fe as well as of carbonate with Cu, Zn, Fe, Ca and Mg. For the clayey suspensions, colloids are mainly composed of illite and silica. In conclusion, the contribution of the bedrock as well as the influence of the physico-chemical conditions are discussed in order to decipher the role of neoformation and dispersion processes in the colloid formation.