Hydrochemical processes in ground water-discharge playas,Central Australia

A large groundwater system in the Amadeus Basin, central Australia, discharges to a chain of playa lakes 500 km long. The playas contain highly concentrated brines; these are sodium-chloride rich waters with appreciable magnesium and sulphate and very low concentrations of calcium and bicarbonate. Gypsum, glauberite, and other evaporite minerals are precipitating in the playas. The groundwaters evolve to brine by concurrent processes of dissolution, evaporative concentration, mineral precipitation, and mineralogical change. Chemical evolution is considered with reference to a concentration factor based on chloride. Ion transfer calculations demonstrate losses of magnesium and bicarbonate throughout, as a result of precipitation. Sodium, potassium, calcium, and sulphate are gained initially as a result of dissolution but lost subsequently as a result of precipitation. Larger playas in the chain, exemplified by Lake Amadeus, have dual shallow and deep groundwater flow paths whereas the smaller playas, exemplified by Spring Lake, have only shallow flow paths. Brines in the larger playas are diluted by deep groundwaters and this is reflected in the degree of saturation attained with respect to particular minerals. Thus, saturation with respect to gypsum and glauberite is attained earlier in Spring Lake than in Lake Amadeus. Saturation with respect to halite is attained in Spring Lake but not in Lake Amadeus. Both playas are undersaturated with respect to hexahydrite and sylvite although these minerals occur in efflorescent crusts in Spring Lake.     

Salinization in coastal aquifers of arid zones: an example from Santo Domingo,Baja California Sur,Mexico

Groundwater quality in the Santo Domingo Irrigation District area in Baja California Sur, Mexico, indicates the presence of various salinization processes, (1) the geological matter of marine origin comprising the aquifer material suffers diagenetic effects due to its interaction with groundwater of low salinity, (2) the effects of intensive agriculture practices produce effluents that infiltrate to the saturated zone, and (3) the extraction of groundwater causes modifications in the natural flow system induces lateral flow of seawater from the coast line. However, groundwater management has been carried out with the belief that the latter is the main source of salinization. This has resulted in a policy of installing wells increasingly far from the coast, which is not solving the problem. Irrigation-return and seawater that remains in the geological units have been identified as major sources of salinization. Controls should be imposed when installing wells in contact with clayey units that form the base of the aquifer. Extracted groundwater consists of a mixture of (1) groundwater of relatively low salinity that circulates in the aquifer and (2) an extreme member with salinity different to seawater contained mainly in formations that have low permeability, which limits the aquifer underneath. The geochemistry of carbonates and cation-exchange reactions (both direct and reverse) control the concentration of Ca, Mg, Na, and HCO₃, as well as pH values. The concentrations of dissolved trace elements (F, Li, Ba, Sr) suggest that the extreme saline member is different from the average seawater composition. A distinction between the salinization caused by farming practices and that blamed on seawater is defined by the use of NO₃.     

Hydrochemical tracers in the middle Rio Grande Basin,USA: 1. Conceptualization of groundwater flow

Chemical and isotopic data for groundwater from throughout the Middle Rio Grande Basin, central New Mexico, USA, were used to identify and map groundwater flow from 12 sources of water to the basin, evaluate radiocarbon ages, and refine the conceptual model of the Santa Fe Group aquifer system.Hydrochemical zones, representing groundwater flow over thousands to tens of thousands of years, can be traced over large distances through the primarily siliciclastic aquifer system. The locations of the hydrochemical zones mostly reflect the modern predevelopment hydraulic-head distribution, but are inconsistent with a trough in predevelopment water levels in the west-central part of the basin, indicating that this trough is a transient rather than a long-term feature of the aquifer system. Radiocarbon ages adjusted for geochemical reactions, mixing, and evapotranspiration/dilution processes in the aquifer system were nearly identical to the unadjusted radiocarbon ages, and ranged from modern to more than 30 ka. Age gradients from piezometer nests ranged from 0.1 to 2 year cm^–1 and indicate a recharge rate of about 3 cm year^–1 for recharge along the eastern mountain front and infiltration from the Rio Grande near Albuquerque. There has been appreciably less recharge along the eastern mountain front north and south of Albuquerque.

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Resumen Se utilizaron datos químicos e isotópicos de agua subterránea a lo largo de la cuenca central del río Grande, Nuevo México, EEUU, para identificar y mapear el flujo de agua subterránea de 12 fuentes de agua a la cuenca para evaluar edades por medio de radio carbon y para refinar el modelo conceptual del sistema acuífero del Grupo Santa Fé. Se puede establecer zonas hidrotérmicas que representan el flujo de agua subterránea a lo largo de miles a miles de decenas de años en grandes distancias a través del sistema acuífero principalmente siliclástico. Las ubicaciones de las zonas hidroquímicas mayormente reflejan la distribucion de la cabeza hidráulica pre-desarollo moderna pero son inconsistentes con una depresión en los niveles de agua pre-desarollo en la zona central oeste de la cuenca. Esto indica que esta depresión es un rasgo transitorio y no un rasgo de largo plazo del sistema acuífero. Las edades de radio carbon ajustadas para los procesos de reaciones geoquímicas, de mezclado y de evapotranspiración-dilución son casi idénticas a los edades de radio carbon no ajustadas oscilan en un rango desde la modernidad a 30 mil años. Las gradientes de edad de nidos de piezometros van de 0.1 a 2 años cm^–1 e indican un sitio de recarga de aproximadamente 3 cm/yr para la recarga a lo largo del frente montañoso oriental e infiltración del río Grande cerca de Albuquerque. Se aprecia una recarga menor a lo largo del frente oriental de montañas al norte y al sur de Albuquerque.

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Résumé Des données sur les éléments chimiques et les isotopes présents dans leau souterraine prélevée à divers endroits dans le bassin moyen du Rio Grande, au centre du Nouveau-Mexique (É-U), ont permis de déterminer lexistence et létendue de douze sources deau régionales dans le bassin, dévaluer les âges radiocarbones et de raffiner le modèle conceptuel du système aquifère du groupe de Santa Fe. Des zones hydro-chimiques qui représentent lécoulement de leau souterraine depuis des dizaines de milliers dannées peuvent être suivies sur de longues distances à travers laquifère principalement siliclastique. La position des zones hydro-chimiques reflète principalement la distribution moderne des charges hydrauliques mais est incohérente avec une dépression dans le niveau deau dans la partie centre-ouest du bassin, ce qui indique que cette dépression est un élément transitoire du système aquifère plutôt quun élément à long terme. Les âges radiocarbones ajustés aux réactions géochimiques et aux processus de mélange et dévapotranspiration/dilution qui ont lieu dans laquifère sont presque identiques aux âges non ajustés et varient de la période moderne jusquà 30 ka. Les gradients dâge établis à partir des nids de piézomètres sétendent de 0.1 à 2 a cm^–1 et suggèrent un taux de recharge denviron 3 cm a^–1 le long du front des montagnes à lest et pour linfiltration provenant du Rio Grande près dAlbuquerque. Il y a eu substantiellement moins de recharge le long du front des montagnes à lest, au nord et au sud dAlbuquerque.

     

Hydrochemical relationships in groundwater from central São Paulo State, Brazil

Groundwater samples from different aquifers occurring at center/northeast portion of São Paulo State, Brazil, were collected and chemically analyzed. The waters leaching Mesozoic sediments are generally more acid (pH_average=5.9) and have lower values for total dissolved solids (TDS_average=105 mg/L) than those obtained for waters leaching Paleozoic sediments of Tubarão Group. First-degree trend surfaces revealed that the deeper tubular wells occur towards east/southeast and exploit Paleozoic sediments as well fractured/fissured diabases/basalts, whereas the tubular wells in the west/northwest region are shallower. Piper diagrams indicated that the majority of the waters are a blend of waters from different lithologies. Significant correlations were found among nitrate, chloride and bicarbonate, suggesting the occurrence of some anthropogenic inputs, whereas elevated alpha activity of geogenic ²²⁶Ra indicated the need of a broad radiometric survey in the area.     

Glacier hydrochemistry, solute provenance, and chemical denudation at a surge-type glacier in Kuannersuit Kuussuat, Disko Island, West Greenland

In 1995–1998, Han 11 km terrestrial surge of Kuannersuit Glacier, an outlet glacier of the largest ice cap on Disko Island, West Greenland, affected the catchment dramatically. In order to estimate solute fluxes and provenances, bulk meltwaters were sampled at the main subglacial outlet during the initial part of the quiescent phase. The hydrochemistry is significantly influenced by a subglacial basaltic weathering regime with absence of carbonate minerals. The results show that marine and aerosol derived solutes have minimal contribution to the total ion content, whereas sequestration of atmospheric CO₂ associated with carbonation of Ca-rich feldspar and reactive volcanic glass is more dominant than previously reported from glacierized catchments. Application of a sampling strategy dividing water samples into four groups to determine the content of dissolved HCO₃⁻ and CO₃²⁻ shows that the cationic equivalent weathering rate range is 683–860 Σmeq⁺ m⁻² a⁻¹ and solute flux ranges between 76 and 98 t km⁻² a⁻¹. The crustal denudation rate is estimated to 26 t km⁻² a⁻¹, and the transient CO₂ drawdown amounts to 8500–13700 kg C km⁻² a⁻¹.     

Inferring source waters from measurements of carbonate spring response to storms

We infer information about the nature of groundwater flow within a karst aquifer from the physical and chemical response of a spring to storm events. The spring discharges from the Maynardville Limestone in Bear Creek Valley, Tennessee. Initially, spring discharge peaks approximately 1–2 h from the midpoint of summer storms. The initial peak is likely due to surface loading, which pressurizes the aquifer and results in water moving out of storage. All of the storms monitored exhibited recessions that follow a master recession curve very closely, indicating that storm response is fairly consistent and repeatable, independent of the time between storms and the configuration of the rain event itself. Electrical conductivity initially increases for 0.5–2.9 days (longer for smaller storms), the result of moving older water out of storage. This is followed by a 2.1–2.5 day decrease in conductivity, resulting from an increasing portion of low conductivity recharge water entering the spring. Stable carbon isotope data and the calcite saturation index of the spring water also support this conceptual model. Spring flow is likely controlled by displaced water from the aquifer rather than by direct recharge through the soil zone.     

Unsaturated zones as archives of past climates: toward a new proxy for continental regions

Natural chemical and isotopic tracers contained in unsaturated-zone moisture profiles are being developed as potential new archives for reconstructing recharge history, as well as palaeoclimatic or palaeobotanical conditions over time scales ranging from 20–120,000 years. Results worldwide to date are reviewed, and examples from northern Africa and the western USA are discussed in detail. Encouraging results are obtained from relatively homogeneous deposits such as Quaternary dune sands, where Cl profiles are compared both with the instrumental record, such as rainfall and river-gauging records, and ³H profiles. Model studies have helped to define the persistence time of unsaturated-zone signals, where evidence of a 20-year event such as the Sahel drought may persist for 1,000 years. Significant questions remain regarding the assumptions used in interpreting profiles, particularly the extent to which preferential flow may occur, transient flow phenomena, and stability of tracer-input function. Unsaturated zones that exhibit strong preferential flow are probably unsuitable as archives. Questions remain also on the assumption that flow remains downward, especially in deep unsaturated zones where non-isothermal vapour transport may occur. Estimation of depositional flux for Cl and other parameters is probably the greatest source of uncertainty, both at the spatial scale and also in the long term. Advances are being made in all areas, however, and the use of multiple tracers (chemical, especially Cl and NO₃) and isotopic signals (δ¹⁸O, δ²H, ³⁶Cl), together with soil hydraulic properties, is promising for palaeohydrological reconstruction. Electronic Publication     

Role of karstification and rainfall in the behavior of a heterogeneous karst system

 The complex functioning of karst systems depends on several factors (e.g., geology, karstification status, climate) which influence flow conditions. Understanding a system requires monitoring that includes a sampling interval well adapted to the system's size, and the use of hydrodynamic and geochemical approaches. From our own observations, the general physical and geochemical characteristics of the aquifers are perennial and representative of karst evolution at a given moment. The Notre-Dame-des-Anges karst system, which is situated in France on the rim of the Vaucluse karst region, was studied during 2 water years. This study demonstrates that several parameters are not definitive, and that they do not provide information about the actual status of the karst evolution of the system. We were able to observe that hydrological parameters in particular are dependent on the configuration of the outlets, which can dramatically change. For example, a heavy storm (300 mm of rain in 4 h), which occurred in the intake area on 22 September 1992, produced a piston effect in the aquifer, which was expressed by extensive unclogging of the whole aquifer. The appearance of a new gryphon at the outlet induced a change in the flow rate and added to the unclogging. The other major result of this study is the demonstration of intensive, even preponderant, participation of water originating in the infiltration zone in the behavior of the system. This contribution, often minimized in previous studies, is closely dependent upon flow conditions and especially upon the recharge status of the infiltration zone. Physical and chemical parameters allowed us to trace this water, and to demonstrate the existence of an actual hanging reserve which plays not a negligible part in flow, during both high and low water levels. This paper demonstrates the necessity of coupling a hydrodynamic study with a hydrochemical approach, and of questioning the representativeness of parameters during a given period, for a better understanding of the functioning of the karst system. This is especially true if the infiltration zone of the karst system is heavily developed, and if external factors (e.g., river, landslip, clogging) influence the outlet Received: 10 June 1996 / Accepted: 11 November 1996     

The hydrochemical characteristics and evolution of groundwater and surface water in the Heihe River Basin, northwest China

A combination of isotopic and chemical indicators has been used to characterize rainfall, surface water and groundwater in the Heihe River Basin, China. Surface- vs. groundwater chemistry data enabled geographical zones and chemical types to be differentiated. The dissolution of halite, Glauber’s salt, gypsum, dolomite and calcite determine Na⁺, Cl^?, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, $ {\text{SO}}^{{2 - }}_{4} A combination of isotopic and chemical indicators has been used to characterize rainfall, surface water and groundwater in the Heihe River Basin, China. Surface- vs. groundwater chemistry data enabled geographical zones and chemical types to be differentiated. The dissolution of halite, Glauber’s salt, gypsum, dolomite and calcite determine Na⁺, Cl⁻, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, and chemistry, but other processes such as evaporation, ion exchange, and deposition also influence the water composition. The majority of deep confined groundwaters are tritium-free and less mineralized than in the shallow aquifer. Radiocarbon values in the deeper groundwaters range from 18.8 to 38.9 pmc, and 80 pmc probably represents the upper limit of initial ¹⁴C activity; this yields ages of approximately 5,960–11,971 years BP, which is about 3,000 years older than those calculated by models in previous work. The shallow aquifer exhibits fairly high and variable tritium activities (4–75 TU), evidence of recent recharge and low residence time (<60 years), which is in line with estimates from previous work. Isotopic signatures indicate formation of deeper groundwaters in a colder and wetter climate during the late Pleistocene and Holocene. The results suggested that significant changes are urgently needed in water-use strategy to achieve sustainable development.

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Résumé Une combinaison de plusieurs indicateurs isotopiques et chimiques a été utilisée dans le but de caractériser les précipitations, les eaux de surface et les eaux souterraines dans le Bassin de la Rivière Heihe, en Chine. La confrontation des chimies des eaux souterraines et de surface a permis de différentier plusieurs secteurs géographiques et faciès chimiques. Les compositions chimiques en Na⁺, Cl⁻, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, et sont déterminées par la dissolution de la halite, du sel de Glauber, du gypse, de la dolomite et de la calcite, mais d’autres processus peuvent également avoir une influence, comme l’évaporation, les échanges de bases et la sédimentation. La majorité des eaux souterraines captives profondes ne contiennent pas de tritium, et sont moins minéralisées que dans l’aquifère superficiel. Les valeurs de carbone 14 dans l’aquifère le plus profond sont comprises entre 18.8 et 38.9 pcm, pour une valeur maximum probable d’activité initiale de 80 pcm; les ages estimés correspondants sont compris entre 5,960 et 11,971 ans, soit environ 3,000 ans de plus que ceux calculés auparavant par les modèles. L’aquifère superficiel présente des activités tritium plut?t élevées et variables (4 à 75 UT), démontrant l’existence d’une alimentation récente et d’un temps de résidence faible (<60 ans), ce qui concorde avec les études antérieures. Les signatures isotopiques indiquent une alimentation des eaux souterraines les plus profondes au cours d’épisodes climatiques plus froids et plus humides qu’actuellement, à la fin du Pléistocène et à l’Holocène. Les résultats suggèrent que des changements significatifs dans la planification des usages de l’eau sont nécessaires et urgents dans des perspectives d’exploitation durable.

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Resumen Se ha utilizado una combinación de indicadores isotópicos y químicos para caracterizar la precipitación, el agua superficial y el agua subterránea en la Cuenca del Río Heihe, China. Los datos químicos de aguas superficiales frente a las subterráneas no permiten diferenciar zonas geográficas y tipos químicos. La disolución de halita, sal de Glauber, yeso, dolomita y calcita determina la química de Na⁺, Cl⁻, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, y , pero otros procesos, como evaporación, intercambio de iones y precipitación influyen también en la composición del agua. La mayoría de las aguas subterráneas profundas confinadas no tienen Tritio y están menos mineralizados que el acuífero superficial. Los valores de radiocarbono en las aguas subterráneas más profundas oscilan entre 18.8 y 38.9 pmc, y el valor de 80 pmc representa probablemente el límite superior de la actividad inicial de ¹⁴C; proporcionando edades de aproximadamente 5,960–11,971 a?os BP, que son unos 3,000 a?os más antiguas de las calculadas mediante modelización en trabajos previos. El acuífero superficial tiene actividades de tritio bastante más altas y variables (4–75 UT), evidenciando una recarga reciente y unos tiempos de residencia bajos (<60 a?os), lo cual está en la línea de lo estimado en trabajos previos. Los datos isotópicos apuntan a la formación de aguas subterráneas más profundas en un clima más frío y húmedo durante el Pleistoceno superior y el Holoceno. Los resultados sugieren que se necesita hacer cambios significativos en la estrategia de uso del agua para alcanzar un desarrollo sostenible.

     

Predicting long-term contamination potential of perched groundwater in a mine-waste heap using a random-walk method

Mine-waste heaps are potential long-term sources of contamination for surface-water courses and groundwater systems. Application of a novel physically based particle-tracking model to a mine-waste heap in northern England, UK, has enabled predictions to be made of the lifetime of contaminants leaching, revealing a pattern of source-mineral depletion. A mine-waste heap is conceptualised by a series of one-dimensional unsaturated “columns” in which active weathering of source minerals takes place. These columns drain into a saturated zone, through which the contaminants are transported to the heap discharge. Solute transport is simulated within the model by the random-walk method while reaction kinetics are incorporated to account for the timescales of source mineral depletion. Results reveal that the mine-waste heap is likely to remain polluting for several centuries, with the governing factor in the magnitude of pollution being the transport of the reactant, oxygen, to the source-mineral surfaces.