Chemical and physical characteristics of springs discharging from regional flow systems of the carbonate-rock province of the Great Basin, western United States

The regional carbonate aquifer in the carbonate-rock province of the Great Basin, USA, covers thousands of square kilometers. It is a significant potential source of water for growth in this arid area. Few wells penetrate the carbonate aquifer, so information on water quantity and quality is derived in large part from ‘regional springs’ that discharge from regional interbasin flow systems. For this study, springs in the carbonate-rock province were sampled; their physical, chemical, and isotopic characteristics were compared to those of known regional springs to identify previously unrecognized regional waters using both examination of the data and multivariate statistical analysis. Criteria for comparison included temperature, discharge, ³H activity, carbon isotope values, and ratios of major and trace ions. Of the 18 springs selected for detailed chemical and isotopic sampling, five springs—Hot, Littlefield, Petrified, Saratoga, and Warm (a)—were identified as regional, and one (Monte Neva Hot) was identified as a possible regional spring. Regional springs provide an easy, low-cost means of investigating aquifer properties; identification of regional springs thus increases the ability to understand the regional carbonate aquifer. The techniques applied in this study can also be used in other regional aquifer systems with diverse and complex geology.     

Using non-conservative tracers to characterise karstification processes in the Merinos-Colorado-Carrasco carbonate aquifer system (southern Spain)

The systematic sampling of the chemical composition of the groundwater from five karst springs (including an overflow spring) and one outflowing borehole have permitted to determine distinctive chemical changes in the waters that reflect the geochemical processes occurring in a carbonate aquifer system from southern Spain. The analysis of the dissolution parameters revealed that geochemical evolution of the karst waters basically depends on the availability of the minerals forming aquifer rocks and the residence time within the aquifers. In the three proposed scenarios in the aquifers, which include the preferential flow routines, the more important geochemical processes taking place during the groundwater flow from the recharge to the discharge zones are: CO₂ dissolution and exsolution (outgassing), calcite net dissolution, calcite and dolomite sequential dissolution, gypsum/anhydrite and halite dissolution, de-dolomitization and calcite precipitation. A detailed analysis of the hydrochemical data set, saturation indices of the minerals and partial pressure of CO₂ in the waters joined to the application of geochemical modelling methods allowed the elaboration of a hydrogeochemical model of the studied aquifers. The developed approach contributes to a better understanding of the karstification processes and the hydrogeological functioning of carbonate aquifers, the latter being a crucial aspect for the suitable management of the water resources.     

Long-term spatio-temporal hydrochemical and 222Rn tracing to investigate groundwater flow and water–rock interaction in the Gran Sasso (central Italy) carbonate aquifer

In the Gran Sasso fissured carbonate aquifer (central Italy), a long-term (2001–2007) spatio-temporal hydrochemical and ²²²Rn tracing survey was performed with the goal to investigate groundwater flow and water–rock interaction. Analyses of the physico-chemical parameters, and comparisons of multichemical and characteristic ratios in space and time, and subsequent statistical analyses, permitted a characterisation of the hydrogeology. At the regional scale, groundwater flows from recharge areas to the springs located at the aquifer boundaries, with a gradual increase of mineralisation and temperature along its flowpaths. However, the parameters of each group of springs may significantly deviate from the regional trend owing to fast flows and to the geological setting of the discharge spring areas, as corroborated by statistical data. Along regional flowpaths, the effects of seasonal recharge and lowering of the water table clearly cause changes in ion concentrations over time. This conceptual model was validated by an analysis of the ²²²Rn content in groundwater. ²²²Rn content, for which temporal variability depends on seasonal fluctuations of the water table, local lithology and the fracture network at the spring discharge areas, was considered as a tracer of the final stages of groundwater flowpaths.     

Determination of the origin of the Helvadere drinking springs by means of hydrochemical and isotopic techniques, Aksaray, Central Anatolia, Turkey

The main aquifer of the Helvadere springs that emerges on the strike-slip of the Hasanda?? fault set alongside the Tuzgölü (salt lake) fault zone, and trends in a NW–SE direction of Aksaray city, in the western part of Central Anatolia, is the exposed rocks of Hasanda?? which are volcanics that have distinct hydrogeological properties. The meteoric origin of the spring waters is deduced from hydrochemical and environmental isotope (¹⁸O, ²H, ³H) studies. The springs have high discharge (Q>100?l/s) and low ion concentrations because of fast circulation along the groundwater flow path in the aquifer. Furthermore, because it has Ca-Na-Mg-HCO₃ hydrochemical facies, it conforms to high standards of drinking and irrigation water.     

Functioning of a karst aquifer from S Spain under highly variable climate conditions,deduced from hydrochemical records

Over a period of three hydrological years during which precipitation was highly variable, measurements of discharge, electrical conductivity, temperature and chemical components of the water at the Cañamero spring (southern Spain) were taken in order to characterise the hydrogeological functioning of the karst aquifer that it drains. The results obtained from analysis of the frequency distribution of electrical conductivity data revealed histograms with a plurimodal morphology (up to 5 modes) and a range of variation that increased with greater pluviometry during the study period. The discharge from this spring increased sharply a few days after major rainfall episodes and, when the discharge reached a value of approximately 3.73 m³/s, an overflow spring started to function. During high-water periods, there were sudden and large falls in EC, temperature and all the chemical components dissolved in the water. This high variability reflects the predominance of groundwater flow through karst drains, a typical feature of conduit flow systems. The considerable hydrochemical heterogeneity observed is caused by the mobilisation of important volumes of recharge waters from shallow areas of the aquifer (soil, epikarst) towards the discharge point, with greater participation of the unsaturated zone during high-water conditions, and a more active role played by the saturated zone during low-water conditions. In karst systems such as the one drained by the Cañamero spring, it is important to monitor several responses (hydrodynamic, hydrothermal, hydrochemical, etc.), with an appropriate sampling frequency and under different hydrometeorological conditions, in order to achieve an adequate hydrological characterisation. This is fundamental for planning, management and protection of groundwater in karst aquifers.     

Factors which determine the hydrogeochemical behaviour of karstic springs. A case study from the Betic Cordilleras,Spain

The Cabra-Alcaide karstic massif situated in the south of Spain constitutes an important part of the so-called Natural Park of the Subbetic Sierras. This aquifer system is drained by various springs which supply a population of some 100,000 inhabitants. The feed areas of these springs show very different characteristics with respect to their geological structure, size of the drainage area, thickness of the vadose zone, elevation and degree of karstification. In addition, the carbonate rocks lie over a clayey substratum which contains large masses of intercalated evaporites. Due to these conditions, the hydrochemical composition of the springs is relatively variable. In this study a hydrogeochemical characterization of the aquifer in both space and time is undertaken and the factors that determine it are discussed. To achieve this, 19 monthly samples were taken from the 6 most significant springs of the hydrogeological system. The commencement of sampling coincided with the transition from a period of several years of severe drought and a very wet two-year period, which amplified considerably the hydrochemical and hydrodynamic response of the springs to the recharge. Identification of hydrogeochemical processes was performed by studying hydrographs, the temporal evolution of physico-chemical parameters, ionic ratios (mainly Mg/Ca) and by means of simple and multivariate statistical analyses. The saturation status was established using the WATEQF program and the mass transfer was quantified using PHREEQC. With the exception of the epikarstic subsystem (i.e. the Zarza spring), the majority of the results indicate that the aquifer exhibits a diffuse flow model, in which piston flow phenomena are seen, closely linked to the most intense precipitation. Along the direction of flow hydrochemical trends are seen as the water type changes from Ca–HCO₃ to Ca–Mg–HCO₃; at the same time enrichment in some ions, derived from the dissolution of evaporitic minerals of the impermeable substratum, and dedolomitization processes occur. In this way, almost 90% of the water samples were oversaturated in calcite, the majority of cases being a consequence of the dissolution of the gypsum of the substratum. Only in the epikarstic springs can it be considered that the oversaturation in calcite is due to loss of CO₂ from the emerging groundwater. It is concluded that hydrodynamic aspects together with hydrogeochemical characteristics need to be taken into account to correctly explain the hydrochemical evolution of the karstic springs. Moreover, the use of both approaches permits a more accurate establishment of the degree of aquifer karstification, which in turn needs to be known in order to assess its vulnerability to contamination and to protect recharge zones.     

Reactive Transport Process of Earthquake-induced Hydro-chemical Changes in Guanding Thermal Spring, Western Sichuan, China

Earthquake-related hydrochemical changes in thermal springs have been widely observed; however, quantitative modeling of the reactive transport process is absent. In the present study, we apply reactive transport simulation to capture the hydrochemical responses in a thermal spring following the Wenchuan Ms 8.0 and Lushan Ms 7.0 earthquakes. We first constrain deep reservoir geothermal fluid compositions and temperature by multicomponent geothermometry, and then a reactive geochemical transport model is constructed to reproduce the hydrochemical evolution process. The results show that the recharge from the shallow aquifer increases gradually until it reaches a peak because of the permeability enhancement caused by the Lushan earthquake, which may be the mechanism to explain the earthquake-related hydrochemical responses. In contrast to the postseismic effect of the Wenchuan earthquake, the chemical evolution can be considered as hydrochemical anomalies related to the Lushan earthquake. This study proves that the efficient simulation of reactive transport processes is useful for investigating earthquake-related signals in hydrochemical time series.     

Roles of hydrogeochemical evaluations in estimating protection zones of Koçpınar springs in Aksaray, central Anatolia, Turkey

The present study indicates estimation of protection zones of KoçpLnar springs in Aksaray area by means of hydrogeochemical methods. Relevant hydrogeochemical studies were carried out to achieve this objective. KoçpLnar springs emerge on strike-slip Hasanda<L fault set (HFS) along the Tuzgölü (Salt Lake) fault zone (TFZ) in central Anatolia. The outcrops of volcanic origin exhibit different hydrogeological properties in the study area. The hydrogeochemical evaluations of KoçpLnar springs represent good results about the available main groundwater flow systems that exist in this area. Marbles of Palaeozoic age form the main aquifer that recharges KoçpLnar springs. The CO₂ gas content of the spring waters is significantly high. Based on the ion concentrations, the water of this spring has mainly two hydrochemical facies: Ca-Mg-HCO₃ and Na-HCO₃. Although, the hydrochemical analyses showed that waters of these springs meet the drinking and irrigation water standards, the area around the springs is continuously being contaminated by both domestic and agricultural wastes. Therefore, detailed hydrogeological, hydrochemical and isotopic investigations were carried out to accurately estimate the protection zones of KoçpLnar springs. These studies showed that three main protection zones could be proposed against external pollution effects around the spring's area.     

Hydrogeologic delineation of habitats for endangered species: the Comal Springs/River System

 We delineate 18 distinct habitats for the endangered fountain darter in the Comal Springs/River system based upon a combination of vegetative, geologic, and hydrologic criteria. Comal Springs are the largest natural discharge from the Edwards aquifer of central Texas; they issue along faults which penetrate the confined portion of the aquifer. The springs are the head of the Comal River which is an important economic and recreational resource to the local community. The spring/river system is the home of the fountain darter, a federally listed endangered species. Previous studies of this system were on a large scale and lacked detail necessary for characterization. The fountain darter and other fauna in the Comal Springs/River system are threatened by the possibility of diminished flows and the concomitant habitat change. The 18 habitats are defined by the dominant species of vegetation, the substrate, and the flow conditions. Human alterations and spring discharge control the morphology of the river and the substrates. Stream velocities determined substrate conditions and, thus indirectly, the distribution of vegetation and habitats. In this system, hydrochemical parameters were uniform as were the soils adjacent to the stream; these factors were not important to the habitat delineation. The range of stream velocities necessary to maintain the habitats can be estimated with the Hjulstrom diagram. The darters were associated with a number of these habitats. We surmise that significant alteration of the system's habitats will occur if discharge conditions change. Received: 22 January 1996 · Accepted: 4 March 1996     

济南泉域排泄区岩溶地下水水化学特征

文章通过分析研究济南泉域排泄区地下水水化学成分特征及形成过程,结合岩溶地下水的补径排条件,揭示了不同位置、不同深度循环的水质存在差异的原因。为保护泉水、优化泉域内地下水的开采方案提供了依据。     

Quantitative analysis of springs

Growing demand for groundwater resources and stringent environmental concerns has led to large groundwater investigations, including characterization of aquifer systems that are hydraulically connected to springs. A pumping test is one of the most reliable means of quantifying hydraulic characteristics and the response of natural springs to pumping because it yields results that, in general, are representative of a larger area than are results from a single point observation. Recharge to the aquifer sustaining discharge from springs must be evaluated prior to the utilization of springs. The spring hydrograph is analyzed, as the shape of a hydrograph is a reflection of the response of the aquifer to recharge. The form and rate of recession provide significant information on the storage, lithological composition, and structural characteristics of the aquifer system sustaining the spring. Water tracing techniques have been developed and used over a period of centuries to delineate catchment boundaries, estimate groundwater flow velocities, determine areas of recharge, and identify sources of pollution of spring water.     

Hydrochemical dynamics of TOC and NO3 − contents as natural tracers of infiltration in karst aquifers

Analysis of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and NO₃ ^? contents in the water at six springs in the province of Malaga (Southern Spain), sampled under different hydrologic conditions, revealed two different hydrochemical behaviour patterns for these natural tracers of infiltration. TOC content increased during every recharge period, following the rapid arrival of water infiltrating through the soil. On the other hand, NO₃ ^? content only rose during the first flood episodes (normally in autumn), and fell during the winter and spring ones. This difference is consequence of the distinctive biogeochemical kinetics of nitrogen with respect to organic carbon, both in the soil and within the aquifer. Unlike the mineralisation undergone by TOC from the surface to the spring, the NO₃ ^? ion remains in the aquifer almost unaffected, due to the oxidizing conditions prevailing within the karst medium, which do not allow its denitrification and favour its preservation within the saturated zone. In non-polluted aquifers, TOC and NO₃ ^? have a common origin in the soil and can be used to determine infiltration processes and the hydrogeological functioning of karst aquifers. Their different hydrochemical evolution provides information about mineralization and degradation processes of organic matter within karst aquifers, which can be used to validate the vulnerability to contamination in this type of medium.     

降雪及旅游活动对金佛山表层岩溶泉水化学的影响

金佛山是世界自然遗产,冬季到景区赏雪的游客众多。为探究降雪过程及旅游活动对金佛山表层岩溶泉的影响,本文对2014年12月一次大规模降雪前后的水房泉水化学变化进行高频自动取样监测,获取高分辨率的水化学变化曲线,与大气降水、土壤水及污水的理化特征进行比较,并采用主成分分析法剖析影响泉水化学的主要因素。结果表明泉水理化学指标在降雪的不同阶段表现出显著的动态变化:在积雪初期（2014-12-10至2014-12-14）大部分水化学指标基本稳定;此后至积雪大面积融化前（2014-12-15至2014-12-28）旅游排污量增大,泉水的水温、流量、浊度、盐度以及各项离子含量呈上升趋势,而pH、溶解氧则呈下降趋势,水化学指标变幅大;积雪融化期间,融水补给使泉水溶解氧和浊度上升,其他水化学指标先下降后上升。主成分分析显示旅游活动的污水输入是引起泉水水质变化的首要因素,主成分贡献率达59%;积雪融化的稀释作用能一定程度缓解流域地下水污染状况,是第二影响因素,贡献率31%。      

Numerical simulation of karst groundwater system for discharge prediction and protection design of spring in Fangshan District,Beijing

As the rapid growth of population and social economy, the situation of water resources shortage in Beijing city becomes more and more serious. Karst groundwater in Beijing has great potential for development. The reasonable exploitation of karst groundwater can enhance the water-supply stability of Beijing city. Firstly, the distribution of springs has been investigated in Fangshan, Beijing, and the characteristics of these springs have also been analyzed. Secondly, the hydrogeological conceptual model has been built, based on this, the groundwater flow numerical simulation model was established, and the parameter identification and validation of the model were performed under groundwater level and spring discharge. The results shows that the simulated values of groundwater level and spring discharge are very close to measured values, and the model can be used for groundwater resources evaluation and spring discharge prediction. Finally, a reasonable exploitation design has been developed with three exploitation scenarios considering the spring discharge protection; meanwhile, the quantity of groundwater resources was evaluated in the karst aquifer. The simulation results indicate that different exploitation yields have a significant impact on spring discharge; and the effective measures should be taken to protect the spring discharge     

涞源北盆地地下水氢氧同位素特征及北海泉形成模式

拒马源泉群作为拒马河的源头,受到了较多专家和学者的关注。但这些研究多集中在地下水的水化学、水位动态、泉流量等特征上,对地下水氢氧同位素特征的分析几乎没有,且对北海泉的成因解释多为粗略的定性概述。为了说明涞源北盆地地下水的氢氧同位素特征,详细揭示北海泉的形成模式,首次系统地采集了不同含水岩组的地下水样品,测定了水样的氢氧同位素组分。结果表明:样品点δD和δ18O值均落在区域大气降水线上或附近,大气降水是研究区地下水的主要补给来源;白云岩、灰岩含水岩组高程效应较明显,径流途径长,松散含水层径流途径短,受蒸发作用较强;白云岩、灰岩含水岩组和松散含水层氘盈余d值分别为6.0‰～11.6‰、4.2‰～11.2‰、3.8‰～8.0‰,较大气降水大部分偏小,表明岩溶水和松散孔隙水经历了不同的流动过程;白云岩、灰岩含水岩组从补给区向排泄区各自流动过程中,在小西庄、香炉屯村附近断裂带发生沟通混合,然后在向盆地中心径流过程中受断层阻水上升,上升过程中又接受了松散孔隙水的补给,最后在松散岩层中出露成泉,形成北海泉。在孔隙水混入前,两者的平均补给比例大约为48.4%～57.6%和42.4%～51.6%。     

A synthetic approach integrating surface and subsurface data for prospecting deep aquifers: the Southeast Tunisia

The Southeast Tunisia has remarkable thermal springs that have been used for bathing since many years. Currently, studies are being carried out to investigate the possible use of the hot water for heating buildings and for greenhouses. Springs with discharge temperatures between 26.8 and 58°C exist in the area. The flow rates range between 7 and 66 l/s with total dissolved solids (TDS) varying between 2,020 and 4,030 mg/l. Both geological–hydrogeological setting and the similarity in chemical characteristics between the Zarat spring and nearby water wells suggest that the hot water from this spring may be related to the Senonian aquifer. However, the hydrogeothermal approach shows that the depth of the reservoir that supplies the Zarat spring is greater than that of the Senonian aquifer. In fact, geothermometry approach indicates that fluids emerging from the Lower Cretaceous sandstones reach temperatures of approximately 78°C at depth, while the fluid temperature from the nearby water wells is 32°C. Through the integration of various types of data we found that the thermal water of Southeast Tunisia is of meteoric origin. This water infiltrates deeply into the Lower Cretaceous sandstones and reaches a high temperature before rising upwards to supply the hot springs and well discharge zones. It appears that the upward movement of hot water from the deep aquifers to shallow ones is probably due to the abundant fractures in the area.     

海底泉对在海底有限延伸的越流含水层系统中地下水潮汐效应的增强作用

海底泉在滨海地下水排泄过程中起着重要的作用。本文给出了含有一个海底泉的在海底延伸的越流承压含水层系统中地下水水头在海潮作用下波动的近似解析解。该含水层顶底板隔水且向海底延伸有限距离。假设含水层的海底露头被一层隔水层覆盖,海底泉由一个渗透性很好的完全穿透海底含水层硕板的圆柱体渗漏天窗（海底泉孔）来表示。近似解析解中包含了6个参数：承压含水层的海潮传播参数,海底泉孔中心到海岸线的距离,表示泉的圆柱体的等效半径,海底泉孔中心到含水层海底露头处的距离,承压含水层的海潮载荷效率和弱透水层的越流。分析表明,如果海底泉孔中心到海岸线的距离远大于泉孔的等效半径,且海底泉孔中心到含水层海底露头处的距离远大于泉孔的等效半径时,解析解的近似误差可以忽略。然后本文讨论了解析解的两个基本性质,分析了海底泉对海底地下水水头波动的影响。     

Groundwater components in the alluvial aquifer of the alpine Rhone River valley, Bois de Finges area, Wallis Canton, Switzerland

Source, type, and quantity of various components of groundwater, as well as their spatial and temporal variations were determined by different hydrochemical methods in the alluvial aquifer of the upper Rhone River valley, Bois de Finges, Wallis Canton, Switzerland. The methods used are hydrochemical modeling, stable-isotope analysis, and chemical analysis of surface water and groundwater. Sampling during high- and low-water periods determined the spatial distribution of the water chemistry, whereas monthly sampling over three years provided a basis for understanding seasonal variability. The physico-chemical parameters of the groundwater have spatial and seasonal variations. The groundwater chemical composition of the Rhone alluvial aquifer indicates a mixing of weakly mineralized Rhone River water and SO₄-rich water entering from the south side of the valley. Temporal changes in groundwater chemistry and in groundwater levels reflect the seasonal variations of the different contributors to groundwater recharge. The Rhone River recharges the alluvial aquifer only during the summer high-water period. Electronic Publication     

Piezometric and hydrogeochemical characterization of groundwater circulation in complex karst aquifers. A case study: the Mancha Real-Pegalajar aquifer (Southern Spain)

A small karst aquifer of great structural complexity has been subjected to significant resource withdrawal over recent decades. This exploitation aroused social conflict due to the effect it has had on emblematic springs. This research has analysed piezometric data collected over the course of 12 years and the spatial hydrochemical data supplied by the main water points associated with it. The spatial and temporal evolution of the main chemical species in the groundwater and the hydrogeochemical processes affecting them have been studied, modelling them with the programme PHREEQC. These data suggest a complicated model of hydrogeological function with sectors storing water at different depths and connected to each other locally as determined by the geological structure.     

辛安泉系统岩溶地下水降水补给滞后分析研究

辛安泉域是山西第二大岩溶泉,是长治市生活主要供水水源,根据其地质和含水岩性特征,从其补径排规律上,分析了泉域接受降水补给的年内和年际特点.并建立其裸露区降水补给模型.得出降雨补给泉水滞后6a以上,最长可达10a,降水丰枯与泉水的不一致变化趋势.近年降水减少是泉水流量下降的主要原因,应合理开采,以保泉水常流不竭.