Geochemical characteristics and source analysis of inflow of mine water in Wang’ershan Gold Mine, Shandong

Through a systematic observation of water level and temperature, and a comprehensive analysis of the data on major/trace elements, nitrite, hydrogen-oxygen isotopes, the conclusion has been drawn that there are two relatively independent groundwater systems (cool water and hot water), and the geochemical indicators of hot/cool waters are described. The cool water system is relatively enriched in Ca2 , Mg2 and HCO3-. Its TDS is relatively low, about 1400–1800 mg/L. The hot water system is relatively enriched in K , Na , Cl- and SO42-. Its TDS is relatively high, about 2200–2300 mg/L. The cool water system is enriched in Ba, Ga, Cd, and the hot water system is enriched in B, Ti, Cr, Ni, Cu, Mo, Rb, and Cs, relatively. Especially, the contents of Rb and Cs in the hot water system are more than five times as high as those in the cool water system. The NO3- contents of cool water discharged from the gold mine are relatively high, and those of hot water are extremely low. The δD and δ18O values follow an increasing order of surface water>mine cool water>mine hot water. The cool water comes mainly from the lateral supply of phreatic water, while the hot water comes mainly from the vertical supply of deeply circulating structure-fracture water. The ratio of cool water over hot water was estimated to be about 1:1 by a water quality model..