Groundwater salinization in the Azores archipelago (Portugal)

Groundwater salinization in coastal regions causes severe constraints to water supply and economic losses to society worldwide. In the Azores archipelago, groundwater abstraction in wells drilled in coastal aquifers is very important for water supply, and quality problems have been reported. Therefore, a groundwater chemistry dataset from wells was compiled to study groundwater salinization in these aquifers. Waters are mainly of the Na–Cl type, presenting a slightly acidic to slightly alkaline character, with a pH between 5.63 and 8.50 (median 7.40). Electrical conductivity measurements range from 127 to 9,670 μS/cm (median 862), suggesting highly variable mineralization, with higher values observed on Santa Maria, São Miguel, Pico, Graciosa, and São Jorge islands. The major-ion composition reflects the contribution of seawater to the groundwater compositional evolution, which is essentially explained by seawater intrusion into wells. In many samples, exchange reactions of Na⁺ + K⁺ for Ca²⁺ + Mg²⁺ are associated with salinization. The seawater fraction in groundwater composition reaches a maximum of 22.5%. These results are extremely challenging to water managers in the Azores because failure to comply with national water quality regulations and with European Union groundwater directive requirements often occurs.     

Major ion chemistry of groundwater from perched-water bodies of the Azores (Portugal) volcanic archipelago

A dataset of major ion composition of 246 samples from cold-water springs discharging from perched-water bodies at volcanic islands (Azores archipelago, Portugal) reveal waters with low mineralization, which evolve due to two main geochemical processes: (1) seawater spraying and (2) dissolution of primary minerals of volcanic rocks. As a result, water facies range from Na–Cl to Na–HCO₃ type waters. The relationship between alkali, alkali–earth metals and HCO₃⁻ shows differences between waters discharging from perched-water bodies in basaltic rocks comparing to more evolved rocks of trachytic nature. The use of principal component analysis shows that water-rock interaction is limited, which is compatible with the geochemical observations and with the hydrogeological environment.     

Groundwater occurrence in cold environments: examples from Nunavik,Canada

Water availability and management issues related to the supply of drinking water in northern communities are problematic in Canada. While rivers and lakes are abundant, they are vulnerable to contamination and may become dry in winter due to freezing. Groundwater can often provide a more secure and sustainable water source, however its availability is limited in northern Canada due to the presence of permafrost. Moreover, the exploitation of northern aquifers poses a dual challenge of identifying not only permafrost-free areas, but also permeable areas which will allow groundwater recharge and exploitation. Suitable aquifers are not as common in northern Canada since the shallow subsurface is mostly composed of low-permeability crystalline rocks or unconsolidated sediments of glacial origin that are highly heterogeneous. In order to investigate groundwater occurrence and associated geological contexts in Nunavik (northern Quebec, Canada), along with exploring how these resources will evolve in response to climate change, field and compilation work were conducted in the surroundings of the four villages of Salluit, Kuujjuaq, Umiujaq and Whapmagoostui-Kuujjuarapik. These villages are located in different permafrost zones, ranging from continuous to discontinuous, as well as in different geological environments. It was found that despite the ubiquitous presence of permafrost, unfrozen aquifers could be identified, which suggests that groundwater may be available as a source of drinking water for small communities. Expected climate change, with predicted permafrost thawing and increases in temperature and precipitation, should enhance groundwater availability and may contribute to a more secure source of drinking water for northern communities.     

Groundwater salinization in Pico Island (Azores, Portugal): origin and mechanisms

 A hydrogeochemical survey was conducted on Pico Island (Azores archipelago) in order to evaluate the groundwater chemistry patterns and the main mineralization processes. Samples were from cold waters and corresponded mainly to sodium chloride type. Conductivity measurements were ∼82–9790 μS/cm and suggest the existence of highly mineralized waters. In fact, 18% had a conductivity >5130 μS/cm and the total dissolved solid (TDS) value for two of the wells was from the brackish water range. The changes in groundwater composition are because of two main processes: (1) silicate mineral dissolution, especially in a few springs located at high altitude and (2) water salinization in the coastal area, as a result of saltwater intrusion and sea-salt spraying. The salinization process corresponds to a binary mixing system, as suggested by the chloride and δ¹⁸O data, and explains the sharp concentration increase in major and minor species detected in several wells. Received: 23 July 1999 · Accepted: 8 December 1999     

Letters from volcanoes

Geology Today often features letters from geologists working on active volcanoes. Some of the most famous letters from a volcano were written by Sir William Hamilton from Vesuvius in Italy, during the 18th century and earned him the title of 'the first volcanologist'.     

Volatile fluxes from volcanoes

Volatile fluxes from Mid Ocean Ridge (MOR) and subaerial volcanism have been estimated or re-evaluated using several natural tracers-³He, ²¹⁰Po, SO₂-and chemical ratios of volatile species in lavas and volcanic gases.
These estimates confirm the net predominance of anthropogenic fluxes over volcanic fluxes for CO₂, SO₂ and trace metals.
They also suggest that, while most of the volatiles transferred during MOR volcanism come from the mantle, volatiles stored at the surface of the Earth supply an appreciable fraction of subaerial fluxes and can be the dominant source for some of them.
The surface inventory of volatile species cannot result from steady-state degassing with constant rate and needs much greater fluxes in the past or other volatile supply processes. This inventory is the result of several of the following processes: capture of the solar nebula and its subsequent partial escape, impact degassing of accreting bodies, and, from Archean to present mantle, degasssing through volcanism and associated phenomena, with recycling into the mantle through subduction.     

Monitoring of the groundwater chemical status in the Azores archipelago (Portugal) in the context of the EU water framework directive

A main challenge associated to EU Water Framework Directive corresponds to groundwater monitoring, both quantitative and chemical. The need for monitoring was also stressed by the Azores Water Plan. Monitoring of the chemical status of groundwater in Azores started in 2003 and has been progressively enlarged to all islands, totalizing 72 springs and 32 wells. A large number of parameters are analysed biannually, as major, minor and trace elements, pesticides and total hydrocarbons, as well as microbial indicators. Spring waters are mainly from HCO₃–Na type; instead water from wells is predominantly from the Cl–Na type, been differences attributed to their respective hydrogeologic framework. Springs discharge mainly from perched-water bodies, been influenced mainly from CO₂ in soils, silicate weathering, and seawater spraying and aerosols. Wells are in basal bodies, therefore subject to seawater intrusion influence, and 9% of Cl analyses made in wells exceed the standard value. Heavy metals, metalloids, hydrocarbons and pesticides all comply with standard values. Agriculture pollution also influences groundwater quality, as revealed by both NO₃ and PO₄ content, been the guide value exceeded respectively in 8 and 9% of the analyses. Despite the discontinuous variation of coliforms over time microbial indicators present an impact on water quality.     

Collapsing volcanoes: the sleeping giants' threat

Dormant volcanoes are typically thought of as relatively safe environments to live around. However, under certain geological conditions, such volcanoes can be prone to collapse and may generate massive rockslide avalanches reaching tens of kilometres from the volcano.     

中国东部全新世火山的镭-钍同位素年代学

活火山是指1万年来有过喷发历史的全新世火山。火山的高分辨年代学对火山灾害评估和火山分类具有重要意义。对于缺乏历史记载的全新世火山,直接对火山岩进行同位素定年很困难。本文利用具有高时间分辨率的镭-钍-铀非平衡确定中国东部年轻火山的年龄。根据镭-钍-铀同位素,海南岛的马鞍岭和雷虎岭是全新世火山（马鞍岭：4.3ka;雷虎岭：4.7ka）;镜泊湖火山（4.9ka）也是全新世火山;龙岗火山存在晚更新世和全新世活动（7.0ka,15.0ka）;大兴安岭阿尔山和诺敏河Ra/Th非平衡消失但²³⁰Th/²³⁸U非平衡显著,属于晚更新世喷发（阿尔山：63ka;诺敏河：71ka）。海南岛的马鞍岭火山、雷虎岭火山和东北地区的龙岗火山、镜泊湖火山,是4座活火山。至于东北地区的阿尔山和诺敏河火山是否是活火山,有待测试更多样品的Ra/Th同位素。五大连池老黑山和火烧山有历史喷发记录,这与它们都存在显著Ra/Th非平衡一致。五大连池老黑山和火烧山的岩浆滞留年龄分别小于4.2ka和3.2ka,岩浆上升速率>18~23m/y。

     

Outcrop gamma-ray logging and its applications: examples from the German Triassic

Gamma-ray logging of outcrops is a quick and simple, yet powerful technique to better correlate well data with surface geology. It is particularly useful for integrated sequence stratigraphic analysis and for reservoir and aquifer characterisation using outcrop analogues.Three examples from the Triassic of the cratonic German Basin are discussed: (1) shallowing-upward cycles in the Upper Muschelkalk carbonate ramp with retrogradational and progradational stacking patterns; (2) evaporite-to-red bed cycles of the Gipskeuper; (3) fluvial architecture across the terminal alluvial plain system of the Stubensandstein.Such outcrop analog studies help: (1) to calibrate subsurface well log data; (2) to evaluate the heterogeneity of subsurface reservoirs (and aquifers); and (3) to provide improved data for quantitative reservoir modelling.     

People and volcanoes: Taal Island, Philippines

Many of the world's most dangerous volcanoes are located in developing countries, which often lack resources for adequate hazard mitigation efforts. Despite technological advances in volcano monitoring, the increasing populations that crowd fertile ash slopes exacerbate the threat of future major volcanic disasters.     

New sulfur isotope ratios from South American volcanoes

Four new sulfur isotope ratios of native volcanic sulfur are given and it is shown that isotope distributions are best presented with histograms.Possible causes governing the isotope compositions of native volcanic sulfur are briefly discussed.With 1 Figure     

Poorly-ordered iron-rich precipitates from springs and streams on andesitic volcanoes

Four Fe-rich deposits, two occurring at springs, one on boulders in a stream and the fourth in a stream bed on andesitic volcanoes in the North Island, New Zealand, have been investigated by mineralogical techniques. They have poorly-ordered structure with compositions intermediate between those of ferrihydrite and hisingerite. Electron microscopy revealed solid spheres of 30 Å dia which formed 0.1-0.5 μm aggregates. Surface areas, as measured by ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, were close to 600 m²/g.X-ray diffraction gave weak patterns similar to both ferrihydrite and hisingerite. Infrared absorption showed a shift in the Si-O stretching band from 965 to 1020 cm^?1 with decreasing amounts of Fe and increasing amounts of Si. These frequencies imply the presence of Fe-O-Si bonds in these materials. Desilication, by treatment with KOH in the laboratory, resulted in a conversion of these intermediates towards ferrihydrite.     

Temporal helium isotopic variations within Hawaiian volcanoes: Basalts from Mauna Loa and Haleakala

Helium isotope ratios in basalts spanning the subaerial eruptive history of Mauna Loa and Haleakala vary systematically with eruption age. In both volcanoes, olivine mineral separates from the oldest samples have the highest ³He/⁴He ratios. The Haleakala samples studied range in age from roughly one million years to historic time, while the Mauna Loa samples are radiocarbon dated flows younger than 30.000 years old. The Honomanu tholeiites are the oldest samples from Haleakala and have ³He/⁴ ratios that range from 13 to 16.8× atmospheric, while the younger Kula and Hana series alkali basalts all have ³He/⁴ close to 8×atmospheric. A similar range is observed on Mauna Loa; the oldest samples (roughly 30,000 years) have ³He/⁴ ratios of 15 to 20 × atmospheric, with a relatively smooth decrease to 8 × atmospheric with decreasing age. The consistent trend of decreasing ³He/⁴He ratio with time in both volcanoes, coherence between the helium and Sr and Nd isotopes (for Haleakala), and the similarity of ³He/⁴ in the late stage basalts to depleted mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) helium, argue against the decrease being the result of radiogenic ingrowth of ⁴He. The data strongly suggest an undegassed (i.e., high ³He/(Th + U)) mantle source for the early shield building stages of Hawaiian volcanism. and are consistent with the hotspot/mantle plume model. The data are difficult to reconcile with models for Hawaiian volcanism that require recycled oceanic crust or derivation from a MORB-related upper mantle source. We interpret the decrease in ³He/⁴ with volcano evolution to result from an increasing involvement of depleted mantle and/or lithosphere during the late stages of Hawaiian volcanism.