Fractured rock is bedrock that contains cracks, fractures, and openings through which groundwater can flow. Unlike water moving through the tiny spaces in soil or sand, groundwater in fractured rock follows complex networks of fractures that can vary in size, direction, and connectivity. These pathways can cause contaminants to spread in unpredictable ways, making it more difficult to understand where contamination is located and how it will move over time.
The Characterization and Remediation of Fractured Rock (FracRx-1, 2017) guidance explains how to investigate, characterize, remediate, and monitor contaminated fractured rock sites using modern tools and approaches. The guidance describes how to develop a conceptual site model, select appropriate characterization methods, identify remediation strategies, design monitoring programs, and apply modeling to better understand contaminant movement. It also includes a tool selection table that helps users identify the most appropriate tools for collecting the data needed to characterize and remediate fractured rock sites, along with practical lessons learned and case studies to support effective decision-making.
Topic(s): Advanced Site Characterization, Fractured Rock, Groundwater, Groundwater Monitoring, Remediation Technologies, Sediments, Soils
