Project Summary
The project investigated the reactivity of the Moolayember Formation’s mineralogy and assessed the impact of the groundwater chemistry from a greenhouse gas (GHG) stream. A literature review was completed of the Moolayember Formation with focus on minerology in the Glenhaven area. Modelling of potential dissolution and precipitation processes over time was undertaken with the range of lithologies. Batch reactor experiments validated the reaction path modelling which identified the chemical reactivity of selected samples of the Moolayember. Reaction path modelling was able to reproduce some, but not all of the trends observed in aqueous geochemistry. The project’s data also confirmed the Moolayember lithologies immediately beneath the unconformity have sufficient permeability for fluid flow to occur if acted on by dynamic viscous forces. This was reflected in the variable levels of extraction of elements during the two weak acid steps of the bench top sequential extraction experiments.
