Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

Clay-rich bedrock aquitards are commonplace throughout much of the world. However, very little in known about how water and dissolved contaminants are transported through these media. The objective of this research is to improve our understanding of these phenomena. Our research will involve field sampling, laboratory experiments, and computer modeling. Our findings will be of direct value to the potash industry whose mines are located in the aquitard. They will also serve as a benchmark for the use of claystone host rocks as storage sites for radioactive or toxic chemical wastes or as caprocks for containing greenhouse gas storage sites both in Canada and internationally.