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Field Experiments on Sealing Permeable Fine Sand With Bentonite¹

ABSTRACT

Bentonite has excellent sealing powers. Treating permeable fine sand with bentonite saved up to 99% of the water previously lost through seepage. From less than 1 up to 2 pounds of bentonite per square foot of sand surface was applied by adding a prepared bentonite suspension to the water or by mixing it dry with the sand.

After drying for 1 month and then rewetting, the seals were 75 to 80% effective. Winter weather and particularly severe winds damaged the bentonite seals still further, reducing them to between 30 and 60% effectiveness. At the close of 2 years of experimentation, including five wetting and drying cycles, the bentonite seals were 27 to 44% effective.

It is estimated that one bentonite seal would cost about the same as the annual cost of 4 inches of concrete amortized over a 30-year period at 6% interest. Therefore, bentonite does appear favorable as a competitive sealer, since one application of bentonite may be effective for more than 1 year.

Simple and effective methods of establishing bentonite seals must be further developed before this sealing method can be fully utilized to effectively reduce seepage losses.

¹ Contribution from Soil and Water Conservation Research Division, ARS, USDA, and Nevada Agr. Exp. Sta. cooperating. Presented before Div. VI, Soil Sci. Soc. Am., Aug. 21, 1962, Ithaca, N.Y.

² Research Soil Scientist and Agricultural Engineer, Southwest Branch, Soil and Water Conservation Research Division, ARS, USDA, Reno, Nev.

Received for publication March 25, 1963. Accepted for publication August 30, 1963.