Groundwater Monitoring
The following piper tri-linear diagram was developed from over 50 groundwater samples collected from a large oil sands operation in northern Alberta. The samples define four distinct groups of samples based on relative major ion concentrations.
Group 1 (Fresh) samples are dominated by samples collected close to the river or from shallow sources recharged from precipitation.
Group 2 (Saline) samples are from limestone source areas and represent old groundwater with long flow paths.
Group 3 (Sulfate) samples come from an area which had historically stored sulfur and currently stores coke.
Group 4 (Alkaline) samples indicate tailings water.
