The research group “Hydrogeochemistry” conforms, along with the group “Thermo-Hydro-Mechanics and Geochemistry of Barrier Materials”, the Applied Environmental Geology Unit of the Environment Department of CIEMAT.
We undertake mainly applied research projects. Over the past 30 years we have provided Empresa Nacional de Residuos Radiactivos, (ENRESA) and government agencies with technical support in issues related to: hydrogeochemical characterization of geological formations; monitoring of water pollution due to industrial activities; environmental monitoring; tracking recharge and discharge zones, as well as residence times, in natural systems; transport of contaminants in surface and ground water; conducting tracer tests; and developing conceptual models to support remediation strategies for contaminated areas.
In the same field of activity, we have participated in numerous competitive European projects related to the need to guarantee the safety of high-level radioactive waste repository in deep geological formations and to ensure the durability of the materials of the multi-barrier system of the repository.
On the other hand, the group has participated in numerous projects of the Ministry of Science and Innovation with the aim of monitoring natural systems to characterize the climatic changes of the Iberian Peninsula at local and/or regional scales.
We are 5 doctors and 3 laboratory technicians, with extensive experience in water sampling and chemical analysis using various analytical techniques. The group is clearly multidisciplinary as integrated studies are carried out covering topics related to Geology, Mineralogy, Chemistry, Hydrogeochemistry, Low Temperature Geochemistry, Trace Element and Rare Earth Geochemistry, Stable Isotopes and Geochemical Modeling of Natural Systems
The Hydrogeochemistry Group is therefore dedicated to research for the knowledge of the hydrochemical facies of a natural environment and its application in studies related to: (i) the selection, characterization and exploitation of waste repositories; (ii) interaction and durability of materials used in deep geological repository (DGR); (iii) surface and groundwater contamination due to industrial and/or mining spills; (iv) monitoring of karst systems without electric current; (v) hydrogeochemical modeling of water-rock interaction processes and mixing processes. The strategic objective of this research derives directly from the need of our country to solve the storage of radioactive waste for many years and the environmental problems caused by mining and industrial activities. The problem caused by climate change has led us to advance in the study of the reconstruction of climatic changes in the recent past in non-maritime areas of the Iberian Peninsula, through the study of speleothems and their paleoclimatic calibration based on the hydrochemical, geochemical and environmental monitoring of karst caves and their environment, continuously and in the long term (>15 years).
