The sources and budget for dissolved sulfate in a fractured carbonate aquifer, southern Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico, USA

Szynkiewicz, Anna; Newton, B. Talon; Timmons, Stacy; Borrok, David M.

doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2012.04.011

Cited by 17 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…By 2006-2008, more post-bomb recharge was present, tritium-helium dates were mainly 1-15 years, and CFC ages were largely 20-30 years [9]. Values of δ 34 S indicate Permian marine gypsum (+12‰ to +13‰) as the main source of sulfate; lower values most likely reflect oxidation of sulfide present in these strata [16].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Stable oxygen and hydrogen isotope data for surface water in the Pecos River [14,15], have been used to determine the relative contributions of winter snow and monsoon precipitation to the river in Texas, the authors concluding that the latter predominates [14]. Sulfur isotopes in Sacramento Mountains groundwater have been utilized to determine the relative inputs of evaporite gypsum, oxidized sulfides and rain sulfate to the dissolved sulfate inventory [16]. Reference [17] [9] differs markedly from that in our dataset, allowing for an improved understanding of the hydrology of the mountain range when both datasets are taken into account.…”

Section: Previous Isotope Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Isotopes as Tracers of Water Origin in and Near a Regional Carbonate Aquifer: The Southern Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico

Eastoe

Rodney

2014

Water

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Previous Isotope Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isotopes as Tracers of Water Origin in and Near a Regional Carbonate Aquifer: The Southern Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico

Eastoe

Rodney

2014

Water

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“…This could point to dedolomitization, which involves dolomite dissolution accompanied by calcite precipitation as a result of gypsum or anhydrite dissolution Plummer et al, 1990;López-Chicano et al, 2001;Szynkiewicz et al, 2012). The dissolution of even very small amounts of gypsum may cause this process to occur in carbonate aquifers, usually characterized by near saturation in calcite (Plummer et al, 1990;López-Chicano et al, 2001;Moral et al, 2008;Szynkiewicz et al, 2012). Infiltration of meteoric waters or irrigation return flow contaminated by domestic effluents and fertilizers rich in Ca could be promoting the dedolomitization process (Pacheco and Szocs, 2006).…”

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confidence: 99%

Groundwater salinization processes and reversibility of seawater intrusion in coastal carbonate aquifers

Han

Post

Song

2015

Journal of Hydrology

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Keywords:Carbonate aquifer Seawater intrusion Groundwater hydrochemistry Hydrogeochemical modeling China s u m m a r y Seawater intrusion (SWI) has led to salinization of fresh groundwater reserves in coastal areas worldwide and has forced the closure of water supply wells. There is a paucity of well-documented studies that report on the reversal of SWI after the closure of a well field. This study presents data from the coastal carbonate aquifer in northeast China, where large-scale extraction has ceased since 2001 after salinization of the main well field. The physical flow and concomitant hydrogeochemical processes were investigated by analyzing water level and geochemical data, including major ion chemistry and stable water isotope data. Seasonal water table and salinity fluctuations, as well as changes of d À concentrations (>39 mg/L), suggest that irrigation return flow is a significant recharge component. Therefore, the present-day elevated salinities are more likely due to agricultural activities rather than SWI. Nevertheless, seawater mixing with fresh groundwater cannot be ruled out in particular where formerly intruded seawater may still reside in immobile zones of the carbonate aquifer. The massive expansion of fish farming in seawater ponds in the coastal zone poses a new risk of salinization. Cation exchange, carbonate dissolution, and fertilizer application are the dominant processes further modifying the groundwater composition, which is investigated quantitatively using hydrogeochemical models.

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“…An increasing trend in SO 4 and Mg concentrations and Mg / Ca ratios along the flow path is also indicative of de-dolomitisation (e.g. Jones et al, 1989;Plummer et al, 1990;López-Chicano et al, 2001;Szynkiewicz et al, 2012) in which the dissolution of gypsum and anhydrite leads to over-saturation and thus dolomite dissolution and calcite precipitation. For deeper carbonate groundwater underlying the Daweijia well field, the negative correlation between Ca 2+ and δ 13 C DIC (Fig.…”

Section: Groundwater Interaction With Carbonate Mineralsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Dolomite dissolution is likely to add Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , and HCO − 3 to the solution, while calcite precipitation will remove DIC and retain calcite saturation, resulting in generally increasing Mg / Ca ratios along flow paths, along with increasing δ 13 C values (Freeze and Cherry, 1979;Edmunds et al, 1987;Cardenal et al, 1994;Kloppmann et al, 1998). The dissolution of even very small amounts of gypsum may cause this process to occur in carbonate aquifers, which is usually characterised by near saturation with respect to calcite, by creating temporary under-saturation (due to the addition of calcium but not a bicarbonate ion) (Plummer et al, 1990;López-Chicano et al, 2001;Moral et al, 2008;Szynkiewicz et al, 2012).…”

Section: Groundwater Interaction With Carbonate Mineralsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of anthropogenic and natural inputs of sulfate into a karstic coastal groundwater system in northeast China: evidence from major ions, δ13CDIC and δ34SSO4

Han

Song

Currell

2016

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. The hydrogeochemical processes controlling groundwater evolution in the Daweijia area of Dalian, northeast China, were characterised using hydrochemistry and isotopes of carbon and sulfur (δ 13 C DIC and δ 34 S SO 4 ). The aim was to distinguish anthropogenic impacts as distinct from natural processes, with a particular focus on sulfate, which is found at elevated levels (range: 54.4 to 368.8 mg L −1 ; mean: 174.4 mg L −1 ) in fresh and brackish groundwater. The current investigation reveals minor seawater intrusion impact (not exceeding 5 % of the overall solute load), in contrast with extensive impacts observed in 1982 during the height of intensive abstraction. This indicates that measures to restrict groundwater abstraction have been effective. However, hydrochemical facies analysis shows that the groundwater remains in a state of ongoing hydrochemical evolution (towards Ca-Cl type water) and quality degradation (increasing nitrate and sulfate concentrations). The wide range of NO 3 concentrations (74.7-579 mg L −1 ) in the Quaternary aquifer indicates considerable input of fertilisers and/or leakage from septic systems. Both δ 13 C (−14.5 to −5.9 ‰) and δ 34 S SO 4 (+5.4 to +13.1 ‰) values in groundwater show increasing trends along groundwater flow paths. While carbonate minerals may contribute to increasing δ 13 C DIC and δ 34 S SO 4 values in deep karstic groundwater, high loads of agricultural fertilisers reaching the aquifer via irrigation return flow are likely the main source of the dissolved sulfate in Quaternary groundwater, as shown by distinctive isotopic ratios and a lack of evidence for other sources in the major ion chemistry. According to isotope mass balance calculations, the fertiliser contribution to overall sulfate has reached an average of 62.1 % in the Quaternary aquifer, which has a strong hydraulic connection to the underlying carbonate aquifer. The results point to an alarming level of impact from the local intensive agriculture on the groundwater system, a widespread problem throughout China.

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The sources and budget for dissolved sulfate in a fractured carbonate aquifer, southern Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico, USA

Cited by 17 publications

References 36 publications

Isotopes as Tracers of Water Origin in and Near a Regional Carbonate Aquifer: The Southern Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico

Isotopes as Tracers of Water Origin in and Near a Regional Carbonate Aquifer: The Southern Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico

Groundwater salinization processes and reversibility of seawater intrusion in coastal carbonate aquifers

Identification of anthropogenic and natural inputs of sulfate into a karstic coastal groundwater system in northeast China: evidence from major ions, <i>δ</i><sup>13</sup>C<sub>DIC</sub> and <i>δ</i><sup>34</sup>S<sub>SO<sub>4</sub></sub>

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