Groundwater flow regime under natural conditions as inferred from past evidence and contemporary field observations in a semi-arid basin: Cuenca de la Independencia, Guanajuato, México

This study was carried out in the Cuenca de la Independencia, a semi-arid basin in Central Mexico. The objective is to describe the main features of a groundwater flow regime under natural conditions, based on groundwater discharge manifestations. Information obtained from paleoecological, paleontological, archaeological and historical data suggests that, prior to heavy development (starting in the 1950s), the hydrogeologic regime was characterized by a larger groundwater availability in a more humid and colder climate. Manifestations associated to groundwater discharges are springs, lagoons, wetlands, saline soils, chalcedony deposits, phreatophytes, thermalism, and artesianism. The different types of manifestations and their position in the basin indicate the influence of groundwater flow systems hierarchically nested, forming concentric zones at ground level. The groundwater flow regime corresponds to a classical gravity-induced flow system with generation of local, intermediate and regional patterns. Integrating several types of data to establish the flow geometry and its dynamics has proven a useful tool to increase understanding of the original groundwater regimes. This approach can also be applied in other over-exploited semi-arid basins.     

Speleogenetic history of the Hungarian hydrothermal karst

The hydrothermal karst of Hungary displays at least two principal stages of development in two differing environments. Caves of an early stage were formed within a deep zone of low thermal gradient. These caves (vugs) are small (tens of centimeters) and lined with scalenohedral crystals of calcite that are often in association with barite. Calcite yields fluid inclusion temperatures of 55–95°C and is depleted in¹⁸O (–11.2 to –17.6 per mil PDB). The caves were formed by ascending thermal waters charged with CO₂. Solubility of CaCO₃ in such a system gradually increases with the ascent of the fluid (solutional zone) but drops sharply at a depth of –250 m to –500 m below the water surface (depositional zone). Caves formed in the solutional zone may be shifted into the depositional zone due to tectonic uplift, and calcite lines their walls. Large caves (tens to thousands of cubic meters) of a late stage were formed within a shallow zone of high thermal gradient immediately below and above the thermal water table. The calcite of the phreatic crusts has a rhombohedral habit, displays lower fluid inclusion temperatures (35–55°C and less), and a depletion in¹⁸O of –9.5 to –14.6 per mil PDB. Several powerful cave-forming processes may operate there including convection, mixing/cooling corrosion, and condensation corrosion. Due to differences in the rate of tectonic uplift, rate of hydrothermal system decay, and hydrogeologic pattern, these caves were either filled with water for a long period of time (phreatic calcite crusts are formed) or partly dewatered early in their history (waterline and subaerial speleothems are formed). The zones of thermal cave formation recognized in Hungary may have a universal character. Very similar features are found in other hydrothermal karst areas of the world (Kirghizia, Algeria, South Dakota).     

成矿古水热系统与热液铀矿床研究历史,现状与展望

介绍了成矿古水热系统与热液铀矿床研究的历史与现状。指出了以往研究只强调水及溶质起源，而对热源重视不够的欠缺。同时，结合热液铀 矿床的研究情况，对成矿古水热系统研究的下一步发展方向进行了展望。     

试论和丰-布尔津盆地砂岩型铀矿成矿古水动力条件

本文在对和丰－布尔津盆地构造－沉积演化史作简要分析之后,将盆地水文地质发展历史划分成若干水文地质旋回与阶段,然后恢复上、下第三系含水岩组的水文地质期发展演化史,总结出下第三系乌伦古河组找矿目的具备良好的古淋滤水动力条件。     

The paleoenvironment and the evolution of brines in the Jordan-Dead Sea transform and in adjoining areas

One of the most important processes leading to the deterioration of groundwater in Israel is the migration of brines penetrating into fresh groundwater bodies. Such manifestations occur at an ever increasing frequency and in unexpected locations. The hydrochemistry of these processes reveals the possibility of involvement of several types of brines. The distribution and the hydrostratigraphic sequence of the brines is correlated with the evolution of paleoenvironments during the geological history of the region. Several major phases of brine and evaporite formation are discerned: The earliest phase occurred in the Paleozoic–Early Mesozoic (Yam Suf–Ramon–Lower Arad Groups) during which brines were generated by dissolution of evaporites. The second major phase in the evolution of brines occurred during the Mio-Pliocene. In the western areas of the country, the brines were generated mainly by the post-Messinian ingression of seawater which dissolved evaporites and reacted with the invaded rock sequence. In the Rift and in adjoining areas, the dominant brine was the final product of the evaporation of an inland marine lagoon (the Sdom Sea) which penetrated into an environment prevalently built of previously formed rocks and, particularly of clastic beds filling at that time, the nascent rift. From this evaporating lagoon precipitated evaporates, the dissolution of which produced brines. A further step in the hydrochemical evolution in the Rift was the creation of the Lisan Lake, which became progressively saline, probably as the result of dissolution and flushing of salts derived from the previous hypersaline Sdom Sea. The contemporary phase in the Rift is characterized by an ongoing process of flushing-out of residual brines and dissolution of evaporites by currently recharged fresh water. Throughout the geological history of the area, four major periods of flushing stand out. These occurred between the Triassic and the Jurassic, at the end of the Jurassic, as the result of the Oligocene uplift and as part of the Messinian event. As the result of these processes, the rock-sequences were flushed off previously formed brines and evaporites and were “made ready” for following generations of liquids.     

Chemical evolution of saline waters in the Jordan-Dead Sea transform and in adjoining areas

The Ca–Mg relationship in groundwaters strongly points to the overall dolomitization and local albitization. The Mg/Ca ratios reveal two trends by which saline waters develop: increase of Mg/Ca ratio by evaporation and decreasing Mg/Ca ratios due to dolomitization and albitization. Br/Cl vs. Na/Cl ratios demonstrate that albitization does not play a major role which leaves dolomitization to be the main source for decreasing Mg/Ca ratios in saline waters. In the eastern and southern Region of Lake Kinneret, salinization occurs by mixing with a Ca/Mg molar ratio <1 brine (Ha’On type). Along the western shoreline of the Lake, a Ca/Mg > 1 dominates, which developed by the albitization of plagioclase in abundant mafic volcanics and the dolomitization of limestones. The most saline groundwater of the Tabgha-, Fuliya-, and Tiberias clusters could be regional derivatives of at least two mother brines: in diluted form one is represented by Ha’On water, the other is a Na-rich brine of the Zemah type. Additionally, a deep-seated Ca-dominant brine may ascend along the fractures on the western side of Lake Kinneret, which is absent on the eastern side. Groundwaters of the Lower Jordan Valley are chemically different on both sides of the Jordan River, indicating that the exchange of water is insignificant. All saline waters from the Dead Sea and its surroundings represent a complex mixture of brines, and precipitation and local dissolution of halite and gypsum. Many wells of the Arava/Araba Valley pump groundwater from the Upper Cretaceous limestone aquifer, the origin of the water is actually from the Lower Cretaceous Kurnub Group sandstones. Groundwater drawn from the Quaternary alluvial fill either originates from Kurnub Group sandstones (Eilat 108, Yaalon 117) or from altered limestones of the Judea Group. The origin of these waters is from floods flowing through wadis incised into calcareous formations of the Judea Group. On the other hand, as a result of step-faulting, hydraulic contact is locally established between the Kurnub- and the Judea Groups aquifers facilitating the inter-aquifer flow of the confined Kurnub paleowater into the karstic formations of the Judea Group. Two periods of Neogene brine formation are considered: the post-Messinan inland lagoon resulting in drying up of the Sdom Sea and the evaporation of the Pleistocene Samra Lake, which went further through the stage of Lake Lisan to the present Dead Sea. For the first period, major element hydrochemistry suggests that the saline waters and brines in the Jordan-Dead Sea–Arava Valley transform evolved from the gradual evaporation of an accumulating mixture of sea-, ground-, and surface water. Due to the precipitation of carbonates, gypsum, and halite, such an evaporating primary water body was strongly enriched in Mg, Br, and B and shows high molar ratios of Br/Cl, B/Cl, and Mg/Ca but low Na/Cl ratios. The development of the Br/Cl ratio is chemically modelled, showing that indeed brine development is explicable that way. Along with the evaporation brine, evaporites formed which are leached by infiltrating fresh water yielding secondary brines with Na/Cl ratios of 1. When primary brines infiltrated the sub-surface, they were subjected to Mg–Ca exchange in limestones (dolomitization) and to chloritization and albitization in basic igneous rocks turning them into Ca-Cl brines. These tertiary brines are omnipresent in the Rift. The brines of the late Lisan and Dead Sea were generated by evaporating drainage waters, which leached halite, gypsum, and carbonates from the soil and from the sub-surface. All these brines are still being flushed out by meteoric water, resulting in saline groundwaters. This flushing is regionally enhanced by intensive groundwater exploitation. In variable proportions, the Neogene and late Lisan Lake and Recent Dead Sea brines have to be considered as the most serious sources of salinization of groundwaters in the Rift. Deep-seated pre-Sdom brines cannot strictly be excluded, but if active they play a negligible role only. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Thermal waters of the Hornonitrianska kotlina depression and their utilization

 Slovakia has many areas rich in thermal waters one of which is the Hornonitrianska kotlina depression. At four localities three types of waters are found. The first belongs to the Ca–Mg–HCO₃ type with T.D.S. 0.7 g/l, the second to the Ca–Mg–SO₄ type with T.D.S. 1.37–2.01 g/l and the third to the Ca–Mg–SO₄–HCO₃ type with T.D.S. 0.97 g/l. Discharge at individual localities varies up to 30 l/s and temperatures of water reach 32.5–66.6  °C. The waters are predominantly used for healing, rehabilitation purposes, recreation and heating. Received: 8 March 1999 · Accepted: 7 June 1999     

相山铀矿田成矿水热系统古水文地质研究

在分析华东南相山铀矿田成矿地质背景、古气候条件基础上,运用古水文地质分析方法研究铀成矿古水热系统的构造——古水文地质条件和古水动力条件。划分了两个古水文地质期和两个古水文地质区,确定了成矿古水热系统补给区、排泄区位置,并分析了水循环过程中铀的矿化形成过程。研究结果表明相山铀矿田的形成是由于大气降水在补给区渗入地下,经深循环加温和水岩相互作用形成的富铀成矿热液在古水热系统排泄区（减压区）沉淀富集成矿。