Hydrogeology of a coal-seam gas exploration area, southeastern British Columbia, Canada: Part 1. Groundwater flow systems

Discovery of high contents of methane gas in coals of the Mist Mountain Formation in the Elk River valley, southeastern British Columbia, Canada, has led to increased exploration activity for coal-seam gas (CSG). CSG production requires groundwater abstraction to depressurize the coal beds and to facilitate methane flow to the production wells. Groundwater abstraction will have hydrodynamic effects on the flow system, and an understanding of the groundwater flow system is needed to evaluate these effects. The purpose of this paper is to describe the groundwater flow system in the area by means of a groundwater flow model and interpretation of hydrochemical and isotopic analyses of groundwater and surface water. Groundwater flow for the Weary Creek exploration area is modeled in two vertical sections. The model domains, based on classic upland–lowland conceptual flow models, are approximately 10,000 m long and 4,000 m deep. Each consists of a fixed water-table boundary and no-flow boundaries along the traces of major faults. Steady-state groundwater flow is calibrated to hydraulic-head, streamflow, and groundwater-recharge data. Simulated steady-state velocity fields define regional and local flow components consistent with the conceptual model. The results are consistent with regional trends in δ²H, δ¹⁸O, tritium, and TDS, which define two distinct groundwater groups (A and B) and a third of intermediate composition. An active, shallow, local flow component (group A) is recharged in beds cropping out along subdued ridges; this component discharges as seeps along lower and mid-slope positions in the southern part of the study area. The waters are tritiated, relatively enriched in δ²H and δ¹⁸O, and have low TDS. A deeper regional flow component (group B), which originates at a higher altitude and which discharges to the Elk River valley bottom, is characterized by non-tritiated groundwater with relatively depleted δ²H and δ¹⁸O, and higher TDS. Groundwater contributes less than 10% of the total direct flow to the Elk River, as indicated by flow measurements and by the absence of group A and group B characteristics in the river water. Thus it is hypothesized that groundwater extraction during CSG production will have little impact on the river. The groundwater flow model developed in this work is used in a companion paper to further test this hypothesis. Electronic Publication     

胶东半岛温泉的地热特征

胶东半岛位于欧亚板块与太平洋板块边缘内侧,是地壳长期稳定缓慢隆起地段,区内地质构造发育,大部分温泉出露在背斜核部,ＮＥ、ＮＮＥ向与ＮＷ、ＮＮＷ向断裂交泯外,地热系统属中低温深循环对流型,略为偏高的大地热流是其主要热源,地表水是地下热水的补给水源,地下水通过发育在花岗岩和变质岩中的断层或断裂破碎带,下渗和深循环对流,在径流过程中不断吸取围岩热量成热水,沿断裂上升过程中,与地下浅部裂隙水混合而成为化学     

Palaeoclihlatic Indicators of China's Quaternary Saline Lake Sediments and Hydrochemistry

In this paper the authors classify saline lake sediments into the cold, warm and eurythermal phases, reveal the consistency between the zoning of hydrochemical types of modern saline lake water and climatic zoning and give climatic parameters under the conditions of typical cold phase (mirabilite and natron), warm phase (thenar-dite) and slightly warm phase (bloedite) saline lake deposition.     

Effects of permafrost degradation on thermokarst lake hydrochemistry in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,China

Thermokarst lakes play a key role in the hydrological and biogeochemical cycles of permafrost regions. Current knowledge regarding the changes caused by permafrost degradation to the hydrochemistry of lakes in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) is limited. To address this gap, a systematic investigation of thermokarst lake water, suprapermafrost water, ground ice, and precipitation was conducted in the hinterland of the QTP. The thermokarst lake water in the QTP was identified to be of the Na-HCO₃-Cl type. The mean concentrations of HCO₃⁻ and Na⁺ were 281.8 mg L⁻¹ (146.0–546.2 mg L⁻¹) and 73.3 mg L⁻¹ (9.2–345.8 mg L⁻¹), respectively. The concentrations of Li⁺, NH₄⁺, K⁺, F⁻, NO₂⁻, and NO₃⁻ were relatively low. Freeze-out fractionation concentrated the dissolved solids within the lake water during winter, which was deeply deepened on lake depth and lake ice thickness. Owing to solute enrichment, the ground ice was characterized by high salinity. Conversely, repeated replenishment via precipitation led to lower solute concentrations in the ground ice near the permafrost table compared to that within the permafrost. Although lower solute concentration existed in precipitation, the soil leaching and saline ground ice melting processes enhanced the solute load in suprapermafrost water, which is considered an important water and solute resource in thermokarst lakes. The influencing mechanism of permafrost degradation on thermokarst lake hydrochemistry is presumably linked to: (1) the liberation of soluble materials sequestered in ground ice; (2) the increase of solutes in suprapermafrost water and soil pore water; and (3) the changes in lake morphometry. These results have major implications on the understanding of the effects of ground ice melting on ecosystem functions, biogeochemical processes, and energy balance in a rapidly changing climate.     

天津蓟县系雾迷山组地热流体水化学特征研究

蓟县系雾迷山组是天津地区主要开发利用的热储层之一。笔者基于区域地质资料,全面分析了天津地区蓟县系雾迷山组热储层的形成及分布特征,认为该层在天津的山区和平原区均有分布,具有分布连续稳定、沉积厚度大、裂隙发育、水质良好等特点。通过一系列的水化学资料及同位素资料分析,揭示了该热储层的水化学特征及其动态变化规律,进而阐明了地热流体的形成和运移特征。该层中的热流体其水化学类型主要受地下水径流排泄条件制约,由北部地区的HCO3-Ca·Mg型,逐步过度到南部地区的Cl·SO4-Na型,呈现由山前到盆地中心的水平分带性。     

Hydrogeochemical and Isotopic Study of Groundwater in a Semi-arid Region: Yeniceoba Plain (Cihanbeyli-KONYA), Central Anatolia,Turkey

Groundwater is the most important source of water supply in the Yeniceoba Plain in Central Anatolia,Turkey.An understanding of the geochemical evolution of groundwater is important for the sustainable development of water resources in this region.A hydrogeochemical investigation was conducted in the Plio-Quaternary aquifer system using stable isotopes(δ~(18)O andδD),tritium(~3H),major and minor elements(Ca,Na,K,Mg,Cl,SO_4,NO_3,HCO_3 and Br)in order to identify groundwater chemistry patterns and the processes affecting groundwater mineralization in this system.The chemical data reveal that the chemical composition of groundwater in this aquifer system is mainly controlled by rock/water interactions including dissolution of evaporitic minerals,weathering of silicates,precipitation/dissolution of carbonates,ion exchange,and evaporation.Based on the values of Cl/Br ratio(300 mg/l)in the Plio-Quaternary groundwater,dissolution of evaporitic minerals in aquifer contributes significantly to the high mineralization.The stable isotope analyses indicate that the groundwater in the system was influenced by evaporation of rainfall during infiltration.Low tritium values(generally1 tritium units)of groundwater reflect a minor contribution of recent recharge and groundwater residence times of more than three or four decades.     

基于矩形图的天然水化学分类和水化学规律研究

在论述Piper图和Durov图的基础上,推荐一种新的水化学图——矩形图,并详细叙述了矩形水化学图的划分原则和依据。通过银川平原地下水水化学资料分析,证实这种水化学图可用于确定地下水的水化学类型,并进行水文地球化学规律研究。     

Contribution to the study of thermal waters in Greece: chemical patterns and origin of thermal water in the thermal springs of Lesvos

The occurrence of thermal/spa waters on Lesvos Island is related to the presence of a major faulting system. Thermal waters are the result of mixing of meteoric and infiltrating seawater at great depth, and their total salinity depends on the percentage of seawater in their composition. According to the diagrams of main elements, trace elements and environmental isotopes, most of the components that determine the chemical composition of thermal waters such as sodium, chloride and sulphates originate from seawaters. On the other hand, the concentration of calcium, magnesium, boron, lithium, etc., was affected by water–rock interaction under high temperature conditions. Moving towards the surface, thermal waters may become polluted by influx of recent seawater, allowing their chemical composition to become similar to that of seawater. The thermal waters of Lesvos Island present relatively high concentrations of ammonia and redox sensitive metals because they are hosted in a reducing environment. They also exhibit low nitrate concentrations due to their mixture with recent fresh water. Finally, they show increased radon concentrations, ranging from 20 to 60 kBq m^?3 in the eastern and southern parts of the island, and about 230 kBq m^?3 in the north, in the area of Eftalou–Argenos. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Using multivariate statistical techniques and geochemical modelling to identify factors controlling the evolution of groundwater chemistry in a typical transitional area between Taihang Mountains and North China Plain

Identifying the key factors controlling groundwater chemical evolution in mountain-plain transitional areas is crucial for the security of groundwater resources in both headwater basins and downstream plains. In this study, multivariate statistical techniques and geochemical modelling were used to analyse the groundwater chemical data from a typical headwater basin of the North China Plain. Groundwater samples were divided into three groups, which evolved from Group A with low mineralized Ca-HCO₃ water, through Group B with moderate mineralized Ca-SO₄-HCO₃ water, to Group C with highly saline Ca-SO₄ and Ca-Cl water. Water-rock interaction and nitrate contamination were mainly responsible for the variation in groundwater chemistry. Groundwater chemical compositions in Group A were mainly influenced by dissolution of carbonates and cation exchange, and suffered less nitrate contamination, closely relating to their locations in woodland and grassland with less pronounced human interference. Chemical evolution of groundwater in Groups B and C was gradually predominated by the dissolution of evaporites, reverse ion exchange, and anthropogenic factors. Additionally, the results of the inverse geochemical model showed that dedolomitization caused by gypsum dissolution, played a key role in the geochemical evolution from Group A to Group B. Heavy nitrate enrichment in most groundwater samples of Groups B and C was closely associated with the land-use patterns of farmland and residential areas. Apart from the high loads of chemical fertilizers in irrigation return flow as the main source for nitrate contamination, the stagnant zones, flood irrigation pattern, mine drainage, and groundwater-exploitation reduction program were also important contributors for such high mineralization and heavy NO₃⁻ contents in Group C. The important findings of this work not only provide the conceptual framework for the headwater basin but also have important implications for sustainable management of groundwater resources in other headwater basins of the North China Plain.     

粤东北贝岭地热田地热地质特征及水化学分析北大核心CSCD

粤东北地区拥有丰富的低温水热型地热资源。贝岭地热田位于河源深断裂北东端,具有优越的地热地质条件,地热田内施工的钻孔(ZK1~ZK5)均揭露到了热矿水,水温48.2~77.0℃。为了深入研究地热田内的水化学特征,通过运用系统的水文地球化学分析方法,得出研究区热矿水水化学类型为低矿化的HCO_(3)-Na型,SiO_(2)含量较高,可用作理疗矿泉水。研究区地下热矿水处于水岩作用的初级阶段,热矿水中的石英和玉髓溶解度已达平衡状态。使用石英温标进行热储估算,结果表明T_(石英)=116.0~150.1℃,平均地温梯度G=12.01℃/100 m,热储循环深度H=819.33~1103.26 m。本研究为今后该区的深部找热工作提供了一定的技术支撑。