Modeling of lithology induced chemical anomalies in the aquifer systems of the Kazan Trona deposit area, Ankara, Turkey

Analysis of groundwater dynamics in the complex aquifer system of Kazan Trona, Turkey, using environmental tracers and noble gases

“…Two samples (S-4 and S-9) having the highest TDS values and lowest DO contents among shallow wells (Table 1) mark the starting point for the mixing line and they represent a huge contribution from older groundwater. This finding is also supported by Camur et al (2008) who explained chemical anomalies (e.g. abrupt changes in electrical conductivity of up to 14,000 mg/l and elevated concentrations of B up to 22 mg/l, Cl up to 3,000 mg/l and SO 4 up to 6,200 mg/l) in S-4 and S-9 groundwater compositions as the result of mixing of shallow and deeper groundwater.…”

“…4). There is a saline zone in this deep, fractured-rock system at the southern half of the trona deposit area with a considerable impact on groundwater quality (Camur et al 2008). The thickness of this fractured aquifer exceeds 400 m to the west of the trona deposit area decreasing progressively towards east to about 100-150 m (SRK 2004).…”

“…After the discovery of a trona ore deposit in Eocene formations of the Kazan Basin 35 km northwest of Ankara (Fig. 1), detailed hydrogeological and hydrogeochemical characterizations were carried out to assess the potential impacts of solution mining on groundwater resources (SRK 2001(SRK , 2004Yazicigil et al 2001Yazicigil et al , 2009Arslan 2008;Camur et al 2008). Water resources are very important for the local community since the area is located in a semi-arid climate in Central Anatolia.…”

“…The initial hydrogeological studies conducted in the Kazan Basin date back to the 1970s (DSI 1975); however, detailed hydrogeological investigations started only after the discovery of the trona deposit in 1998. These studies, concentrated in the deposit area, aimed at characterizing the groundwater resources in the area (SRK 2001(SRK , 2004Yazicigil et al 2001;Camur et al 2008). These previous studies based on hydraulic and hydrochemical data have been unable to characterize the flow and mixing processes in detail.…”

Environmental isotopes and noble gases in the deep aquifer system of Kazan Trona Ore Field, Ankara, central Turkey and links to paleoclimate

“…Kazan trona is found in the Eocene deposits of the Kazan Basin and will be extracted by using solution mining technology. After the discovery of the deposit, groundwater resources in the area were characterized hydrogeologically and hydrogeochemically to assess the potential impacts of solution mining on the aquifer system (Yazicigil et al, 2001(Yazicigil et al, , 2009SRK, 2004;Camur et al, 2008). To provide supporting evidence for the mixing mechanisms within the complex hydrogeologic system, consisting of three different aquifers above the deposit, a multi-tracer approach was utilized (δ 18 O, δ 2 H, δ 13 C and 14 C of DIC, 3 H, CFC-11 and CFC-12, He and Ne) and groundwater residence times were established (Arslan, 2008;Arslan et al, 2012).…”