Hydrogeology and hydrochemistry of the Parmelia aquifer,northern Perth Basin,Western Australia

This study aims to characterise the hydrogeology and hydrochemistry of the Parmelia aquifer and to understand controls on recent water-level changes as these are needed to underpin a quantitative analysis of recharge. The Parmelia aquifer, a layered sequence of sand, silt and discontinuous lenses of clay, receives diffuse rainfall recharge on its outcrop and groundwater recharge occurs across the Dandaragan Plateau at different rates. Water levels have risen steadily over the last three decades between 10 and 55 cm/y in response to the replacement of native vegetation with pasture and annual crops. The mean aquifer properties from sediment analyses indicate a very wide range of porosity (8.9 – 49.5 %) with an arithmetic mean of 26% and consequently a very broad range of specific yield (0.0004 – 0.4) with an arithmetic mean of 0.14. Groundwater in the Parmelia aquifer has an underlying meteoric origin with compositional changes due to reactions with silicate minerals and leaching of chloride that has concentrated in the soil by evapotranspiration. The hydrochemistry sampled at different depths and locations in the aquifer indicates that the groundwater is not well mixed, and variations arise due to relatively recent recharge that has undergone evaporation in some areas.     

Hydrogeology of desert springs in the Panamint Range,California, USA: Geologic controls on the geochemical kinetics,flowpaths, and mean residence times of springs

Over 180 springs emerge in the Panamint Range near Death Valley National Park, CA, yet, these springs have received very little hydrogeological attention despite their cultural, historical, and ecological importance. Here, we address the following questions: (1) which rock units support groundwater flow to springs in the Panamint Range, (2) what are the geochemical kinetics of these aquifers, and (3) and what are the residence times of these springs? All springs are at least partly supported by recharge in and flow through dolomitic units, namely, the Noonday Dolomite, Kingston Peak Formation, and Johnnie Formation. Thus, the geochemical composition of springs can largely be explained by dedolomitization: the dissolution of dolomite and gypsum with concurrent precipitation of calcite. However, interactions with hydrothermal deposits have likely influenced the geochemical composition of Thorndike Spring, Uppermost Spring, Hanaupah Canyon springs, and Trail Canyon springs. Faults are important controls on spring emergence. Seventeen of twenty-one sampled springs emerge at faults (13 emerge at low-angle detachment faults). On the eastern side of the Panamint Range, springs emerge where low-angle faults intersect nearly vertical Late Proterozoic, Cambrian, and Ordovician sedimentary units. These geologic units are not present on the western side of the Panamint Range. Instead, springs on the west side emerge where low-angle faults intersect Cenozoic breccias and fanglomerates. Mean residence times of springs range from 33 (±30) to 1,829 (±613) years. A total of 11 springs have relatively short mean residence times less than 500 years, whereas seven springs have mean residence times greater than 1,000 years. We infer that the Panamint Range springs are extremely vulnerable to climate change due to their dependence on local recharge, disconnection from regional groundwater flow (Death Valley Regional Flow System - DVRFS), and relatively short mean residence times as compared with springs that are supported by the DVRFS (e.g., springs in Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge). In fact, four springs were not flowing during this campaign, yet they were flowing in the 1990s and 2000s.     

Fault zone hydrogeology in arid environments: The origin of cold springs in the Wadi Araba Basin,Egypt

The role of faults in controlling groundwater flow in the Sahara and most of the hyper-arid deserts is poorly understood due to scarcity of hydrological data. The Wadi Araba Basin (WAB), in the Eastern Sahara, is highly affected by folds and faults associated with Senonian tectonics and Paleogene rifting. Using the WAB as a test site, satellite imagery, aeromagnetic maps, field observations, isotopic and geochemical data were examined to unravel the structural control on groundwater flow dynamics in the Sahara. Analysis of satellite imagery indicated that springs occur along structurally controlled scarps. Isotopic data suggested that cold springs in the WAB showed a striking similarity with the Sinai Nubian aquifer system (NAS) water and the thermal springs along the Gulf of Suez (e.g., δ¹⁸O = −8.01‰ to −5.24‰ and δD = −53.09‰ to −31.12‰) demonstrating similar recharge sources. The findings advocated that cold springs in the WAB represent a natural discharge from a previously undefined aquifer in the Eastern Desert of Egypt rather than infiltrated precipitation over the plateaus surrounding the WAB or through hydrologic windows from deep crystalline basement flow. A complex role of the geological structures was inferred including: (1) channelling of the groundwater flow along low-angle faults, (2) compartmentalization of the groundwater flow upslope from high-angle faults, and (3) reduction of the depth to the main aquifer in a breached anticline setting, which resulted in cold spring discharge temperatures (13–22°C). Our findings emphasize on the complex role of faults and folds in controlling groundwater flow, which should be taken into consideration in future examination of aquifer response to climate variability in the Sahara and similar deserts worldwide.     

Hydraulic subsurface measurements and hydrodynamic modelling as indicators for groundwater flow systems in the Rotondo granite,Central Alps (Switzerland)

Regional groundwater flow in high mountainous terrain is governed by a multitude of factors such as geology, topography, recharge conditions, structural elements such as fracturation and regional fault zones as well as man‐made underground structures. By means of a numerical groundwater flow model, we consider the impact of deep underground tunnels and of an idealized major fault zone on the groundwater flow systems within the fractured Rotondo granite. The position of the free groundwater table as response to the above subsurface structures and, in particular, with regard to the influence of spatial distributed groundwater recharge rates is addressed. The model results show significant unsaturated zones below the mountain ridges in the study area with a thickness of up to several hundred metres. The subsurface galleries are shown to have a strong effect on the head distribution in the model domain, causing locally a reversal of natural head gradients. With respect to the position of the catchment areas to the tunnel and the corresponding type of recharge source for the tunnel inflows (i.e. glaciers or recent precipitation), as well as water table elevation, the influence of spatial distributed recharge rates is compared to uniform recharge rates. Water table elevations below the well exposed high‐relief mountain ridges are observed to be more sensitive to changes in groundwater recharge rates and permeability than below ridges with less topographic relief. In the conceptual framework of the numerical simulations, the model fault zone has less influence on the groundwater table position, but more importantly acts as fast flow path for recharge from glaciated areas towards the subsurface galleries. This is in agreement with a previous study, where the imprint of glacial recharge was observed in the environmental isotope composition of groundwater sampled in the subsurface galleries. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

地电场水文地质因素及裂隙水 主体渗流方向逐日计算

2007年西昌和天祝地电场观测台阵建立, 随后两年西昌台阵地电场的TGF-A波形明显, 天祝台阵则以TGF-B波形出现. 台阵内各台站间地电场相关性高, 这受地电场潮汐机理的支持; 不同台站或同一台站的不同方向地电场潮汐波峰谷值差异明显, 地电场潮汐机理和场地水文地质资料表明, 这主要与岩石、 裂隙度、 裂隙优势走向、 含水度、 透水率、 水矿化度和裂隙水压力差等因素相关. 潮汐电信号形成于裂隙水或水中电荷周期性移动, 电荷被岩壁吸附或脱离产生噪声, 该信噪比在同一台阵内基本相同, 信噪比值与潮汐电信号产生过程和场地电磁背景关系密切. 应用地电场潮汐谐波振幅计算裂隙水主体渗流方向, 结果与应用潮汐波峰谷值法基本一致, 这消除了峰谷值法取值的偶然误差. 2008年汶川M_S8.0地震前, 两台阵内都存在场地裂隙水主体渗流方向的短临变异现象, 西昌台阵这种变异更明显.     

EH-4连续电导率仪在西南岩溶地区找水中的应用

针对西南岩溶地区水文地质构造及富水性特征,利用EH-4电磁测深剖面的电阻率差异确定在缺水区域的井孔位置;并对典型案例进行介绍;最后对在工作过程中的经验认识进行总结概括,希望对今后类似地区进行找水起到一定的指导作用。     

在矿产资源勘查中搞好水文地质工作的思考

金属矿产勘查中水文地质工作的质量好坏,将直接影响未来矿山建设和开发工作.但由于工作对象是金属矿产,勘查者往往会忽视其水文地质工作的重要性.通过分析矿产资源勘查工作中水文地质工作存在的问题,强调了水文地质工作的重要性,对如何搞好水文地质工作提出建议.     

利用差分进化算法反求含水层参数

为更好地估算含水层参数,引入了差分进化算法。该算法是一种智能优化算法,其特点是借助现有近似解群体间的距离及方向指导未来的搜索行为,兼具有较好的全局寻优能力和较快的局部搜索能力。用此算法求解了均质各向同性及均质各向异性条件下Theis公式中的含水层参数,所用降深数据是在设定参数后利用解析解计算得到的。计算结果表明,该算法较传统方法计算精度高,不受人为因素干扰。     

鲁中山区中生代构造活动对现今岩溶地下水赋存规律的控制作用

为了掌握中生代构造运动以来鲁中山区岩溶地下水富集规律,以莱芜盆地为例,通过水文地质调查及数据统计分析、钻探施工、地质露头观测、碳酸盐岩可溶组分分析等方法,对中生代构造活动特征、岩浆活动特征,及其对岩溶地下水赋存规律的控制作用进行研究。结果表明：鲁中山区具有典型盆-山结构水文地质特征,盆地南北两侧水文地质特征不尽相同;区域滑脱构造形成的层间虚脱、空隙、碎裂岩带,使得鲁中山区下寒武统朱砂洞组含水层表现为"似层状"特征;热液混合岩溶作用形成的溶蚀裂隙、洞穴可成为岩溶地下水良好的赋存空间;由中生代滑脱构造及热液岩溶活动形成的岩溶介质环境受同期或后期层间溶蚀裂隙及断层沟通,形成立体的岩溶地下水网络。岩溶地下水沿该网络径流、富集,形成鲁中山区特有的岩溶地下水赋存特征。     

Karst engineering studies at the Akköprü Reservoir area, southwest of Turkey

Akköprü Dam, which is under construction, is located at Dalaman Basin in the southwest of Turkey. The base rock at the Akköprü dam site and reservoir area is autochthon Akta? limestone and Gökseki flysch formation. Allochthon Cehennem Deresi limestone, a complex series of ferro- (melange) and peridotite–serpentine units, overlay this unit with tectonic contact. These units are covered by young sedimentary series. The outcrops of karstified Akta? limestone are observed at 2 km upstream of the dam site, at the right reservoir abutment. This unit is very permeable and the groundwater level is very deep, 100–116 m below the Dalaman riverbed. After impoundment, 250,000 m² of this unit will be submerged. Groundwater which percolates in this unit discharges at the coastal springs. This study analyzed the watertightness of Akköprü reservoir related to the karstified limestone in the left reservoir bank and discussed possible options of remedial works to reduce seepage.