A natural analogue of high pH cement pore waters from the Maqarin area of northern Jordan. I: introduction to the site

The highly alkaline springs of the Maqarin area of northern Jordan are currently under examination as part of an international project testing the models used to analyse the safety of repositories for low and intermediate level radioactive waste (L/ILW). The Maqarin area contains a rock-groundwater system which is an ideal natural analogue of a concrete-filled L/ILW repository emplaced in a sedimentary host rock. The high pH (12.5) groundwaters at this site are the product of interaction with naturally occurring cement minerals and not of the alteration of ultramafic minerals. Stable isotope data for the hyperalkaline groundwaters lie below both the local meteoric water line and the eastern Mediterranean water line. At least part of the shift appears to be the result of groundwater interaction with the cement minerals. This paper introduces the site of the natural analogue study and, in presenting novel data on the chemistry and stable isotopic signature of the groundwater, provides background information which is used in a companion paper (Alexander et al., 1992) on testing the predictive capabilities of geochemical thermodynamic codes (and their associated databases) which will be utilised as part of the safety assessment of a L/ILW repository.     

Assessing the impacts of uncontrolled artesian flows on the management of groundwater resources in the Jordan Valley

The deep wells drilled along the eastern escarpment of the Jordan Valley penetrate confined aquifers that produce thermal and mineralized artesian water. Uncontrolled flows from poorly constructed and uncapped artesian wells over the last 30 years have caused the deterioration of the quality of shallow groundwater and surface water. They also have been accelerating the discharge of saline water from deep aquifers and have caused the loss of shallow fresh groundwater resources through the downward percolation of fresh water to replace the extracted deep salty groundwater. A lack of adequate controls on the construction and maintenance of artesian wells is leading to widespread water quality problems in the region, which limits the ability of future generations to access high-quality water, a clear breach of the principle of intergenerational equity.     

The role of volcanic eruptions in blocking the drainage leading to the Dead Sea formation

The shrinkage of the Lisan Lake (LL) to form the recent Dead Sea (DS) was mainly a result of the reduction of the catchment area from around 157,000 km² during Late Pleistocene to 43,000 km² presently. The reduction in the catchment area resulted from the eruption and spread of the basalt flows of Jabal Arab-Druz (JAD), which together with the resulting deposition of thick rock debris and gravels occupied the drainage system. The filling of the pre-basalt drainage system, which used to feed the Dead Sea, with basalts and alluvial sediments blocked the inflows from reaching the Dead Sea. Local base levels along the basalt flow boarders such as Azraq Oasis, Sirhan Basin and Damascus Oasis, and numerous pools and mud flats were created.     

Determination of trihalomethanes and the ionic composition of groundwater at Amman City, Jordan

A water-chemistry evaluation was made of the available springs and wells in Amman and vicinity. Trihalomethanes (THM) were found in all analysed samples with concentrations ranging from 0.2–31.88 μg/L. The probable sources of trihalomethanes in the aquifers originate from three sources: (1) chlorinated Deir Alla surface water, (2) reaction of excess chlorine in the leaky, corroded water-distribution network with organic matter in the vadose zone, and (3) sewage seepage from cesspools in the area. Total organic carbon (TOC) ranged from 0.2–1.4 mg/L. Its probable source is either from the vadose zone or the treated surface water at Deir Alla. It was found that TOC was of vital importance in the formation of THM in the presence of chlorine from the water-distribution system. Major ionic composition of the analysed samples reflected the limestone lithology of the aquifer in the investigated area. Heavy-metal content was relatively low due to the high pH of the groundwater samples. Electronic Publication