Rock-water interaction processes based on geochemical modeling and remote sensing applications in hyper-arid environment: cases from the southeastern region of Egypt

Abstract

Background: The interaction between rocks and groundwater can be considered as multi-faceted processes in hydrogeology where the groundwater chemistry can be resulted from leaching and/or minerals dissolution. The scientific approach of this study based on testing the contribution of remote sensing in providing information related to rock-groundwater interaction along with the outputs of the geochemical model. The current research aims to explore the impacts of lithologic nature and structural geology on the groundwater chemistry. The mentioned objective is significant for the future sustainable development of groundwater in hyper-arid regions. Therefore, both geology and geochemistry of water-bearing formations along the flow path to the studied aquifers were identified. The area was chosen as an example from hyper-arid region to carry out this scientific approach. Results: The obtained results indicate the existence of three main aquifers: Quaternary alluvial (salinity 1253 mg/l to 18,854 mg/l), Nubian Sandstone (salinity 311 mg/l to 14,388 mg/l), and fractured basement (salinity 320 mg/l to 19,375 mg/ l). The results of speciation modeling showed that studied aquifers are supersaturated with gibbsite, goethite, hematite, magnetite, aragonite, calcite, dolomite, and alunite. Nubian aquifer specifically has homogeneity results due to the similarity of water-bearing and geology of watersheds (ferruginous sandstone and ironstone). Remote sensing data and digital elevation model analyses were used for generation of the thematic layers which is affecting the groundwater occurrences and quality such as geology, geomorphology, structural lineaments, slope, flow direction, drainage lines, and elevations. Conclusions: The current research concluded that the groundwater chemistry can be a signature of the rock-water interaction. The potential implications of the research are represented through a priority map for groundwater exploration for both hydro-geophysical investigation and testing wells in order to evaluate the groundwater capabilities where the data from the recorded wells were used to calibrate this map.

Quality assessment and status of spring water in Helambu area, Sindhupalchok district, central Nepal

“…Presence of solids in water throughout the area might be due to the removal of suspended solids by evaporation or by dryness, weathering of rocks and anthropogenic agents (e.g. Drever, 1988;Yousif and El-Aassar, 2018). Mishra and Gupta (2018) found the TDS of Melamchi river around 200mg/l, which is slightly greater than present spring data but below the standard limits.…”

“…pH of water is the only parameter below the standard permissible range. It plays an important role in maintaining the carbonate and bicarbonate in the solution (Singh, 2002;Spellman, 2007;Vasanthavigar, 2014;Yousif and El-Aassar, 2018). Mishra and Gupta (2018) found the Melamchi river water to be greater than permissible value (>7) but the spring water have lower pH values.…”

Drinking water quality, exposure and health risk assessment for the school-going children at school time in the southwest coastal of Bangladesh

“…Meanwhile, the hydrogeology of the Khulna region has been described as a three aquifer system consisting of a semiconfined, shallow Holocene aquifer (extend 100 m below ground level) that is vertically separated from two Pleistocene aquifers (extending 200 and 300 m below ground level) (Burgess et al 2011). The contaminants, especially inorganic pollutants such as As, Mn, Pb, and Cd in aquifer, originate from the interaction between water and rocks belonging to different geological times, and the concentration of pollutants depends on several factors, including water-rocks chemistry, surface and groundwater interactions, the geologic setting of the preferred pathways for groundwater flow, and any other sources for water pollution (Yousif & El-Aassar 2018).…”

Avaliação de processos naturais de salinização de águas subterrâneas na porção leste da bacia do rio Cachoeira, Bahia

“…Uma possível fonte de sais em aquíferos rasos é a deposição seca, proveniente de aerossóis transportados a partir de correntes atmosféricas (MCDOWEEL et al 1990, HARA et al 2004, MANCA et al 2015. Outra fonte, representada pela interação da água subterrânea com a rocha, pode promover incrementos expressivos na concentração de sais dissolvidos em águas subterrâneas (TIZRO & VOUDOURIS 2008, YOUSIF & EL-AASSAR 2018, ADIMALLA& LI 2019. As regiões áridas estão expostas a déficits extremos de água devido a baixos volumes de chuva e taxas de evapotranspiração relativamente altas.…”

“…Nessas re-giões, a maior parte da chuva é evapotranspirada, resultando em baixas taxas de recarga das águas subterrâneas e em incremento de sua salinidade (TWEED et al 2011, BOUZOURRA et al 2015, KARROUM et al 2017. Embora a evapotranspiração possa ser considerada o principal processo de salinização em climas áridos, a interação rocha--água pode responder por parcela significativa da salinização (SALAMA et al 1999, YOUSIF & EL-AASSAR 2018, ADIMALLA & LI 2019.…”