Abstract: | 13C/12C- and 18O/16O-signatures of Calcite Precipitations in Drainage Systems Measurements of drainage waters show two distinct processes of calcite precipitation: 1. reprecipitation of calcium carbonate previously dissolved in groundwaters and 2. absorption of atmospheric CO2 by alkaline solutions. Both processes may be distinguished by the stable isotopes of oxygen and carbon. Calcite precipitated from carbonate groundwater yields δ13C ≈ ?13%0 (PDB) and δ18O ≈ 24%0 (SMOW), whereas calcite produced by CO2-absorption shows δ13C ≈ ?25%0 (PDB) and δ18O ≈ 10%0 (SMOW). |