Fracture Trace Analysis and Tracer Testing Specialty Services

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Fracture trace analysis is a vital tool for evaluating preferential flow paths when investigating contaminant migration and also for identifying prolific locations in connection with groundwater supply development. Lexicon has first-hand training from the academic researchers who developed this technique and experience implementing it for groundwater resource evaluation, site development/redevelopment in karst terranes and energy development.

Tracer testing can be qualitative to obtain general information on directions of contaminant migration or more quantitative to evaluate important groundwater fate and transport properties, such as effective porosity and dispersivity. We have experience with both natural gradient and induced gradient (e.g. pumping tests) tracer tests, using compounds such as rhodamine dye and bromide. As an example, bromide was used in a natural gradient tracer experiment to evaluate potential migration of quarry saw cuttings through exposed bedrock fractures to nearby water bodies.