Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Hydrogeochemistry and possible sulfate sources in karst groundwater in Chongqing, China

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Groundwater from karst subterranean streams is among the world’s most important sources of drinking water supplies, and the hydrochemical characteristics of karst water are affected by both natural environment and people. Therefore, the study of karst groundwater hydrochemistry and its solutes’ sources is very important to ensure the normal function of life support systems. This paper focused on the major ion chemistry and sulfate isotope of karst groundwater in Chongqing for tracing the sulfate sources and related hydrochemical processes. Hydrochemical types of karst groundwater in Chongqing were mainly of the Ca-HCO3 type or Ca(Mg)-HCO3 type. However, some hydrochemical types were the K + Na + Ca-SO4 type (G25 site) or Ca-HCO3 + SO4 type (G26 and G14 sites), indicating that the hydrochemistry of these sites may be strongly influenced by anthropogenic activities or unique geological characteristics. The δ34S-SO4 2− of collected karst groundwater sample fell into a range of −6.8 to 21.5 ‰, with a mean value of 5.6 ‰. In dolomite aquifer, the δ34S-SO4 2− value ranges from −4.3 to 11.0 ‰, and in limestone aquifer, it ranged from −6.8 to 21.5 ‰. The groundwater samples from different land use types showed distinctive δ34S-SO4 2− value. The δ34S-SO4 2− value of groundwater samples had range of −6.8 to 16.7 ‰ (mean 4.0 ‰, n = 11) in cultivated land areas, 1.5–21.5 ‰ (mean 7.2 ‰, n = 20) in forested land areas, and −4.3 to 0.8 ‰ (mean −1.7 ‰, n = 2) in coalmine areas. The δ34S-SO4 2− values of groundwater samples collected from factory area and town area were 2.2 and 9.9 ‰, respectively. According to the δ34S information of potential sulfate sources, this paper discussed the possible sulfate sources of collected karst groundwater samples in Chongqing. The variations of both δ34S and 1/SO4 2− values of the groundwater samples indicated that the atmospheric acid deposition (AAD), dissolution of gypsum (GD), oxidation of sulfide mineral (OS) or anthropogenic inputs (SF: sewage or fertilizer) contributed to sulfate in karst groundwater. The influence of oxidation of sulfide mineral, atmospheric acid deposit and anthropogenic inputs to groundwater in Chongqing karst areas was much widespread. For protecting, sustaining, and utilizing the groundwater resources, the sewage possibly originating from urban, mine or industrial area must be controlled and treated, and the use of fertilizer should be limited.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bottrell S, Tellam J, Bartlett R, Hughes A (2008) Isotopic composition of sulfate as a tracer of natural and anthropogenic influences on groundwater geochemistry in an urban sandstone aquifer, Birmingham, UK. Appl Geochem 23:2382–2394

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brenot A, Carignan J, France-Lanord C, Benoît M (2007) Geological and land use control on δ34S and δ18O of river dissolved sulfate: the Moselle river basin, France. Chem Geol 244:25–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buzek J, Cerny J, Sramek A (1991) Sulphur isotope studies of atmospheric S and the corrosion of monuments in Praha, Czechoslovakia. In: Krouse H, Grinenko V (eds) Stable isotopes in the assessment of natural and anthropogenic sulphur in the environment. SCOPE43. Wiley, Chichester, pp 399–404

    Google Scholar 

  • Chan HJ (2001) Effect of land use and urbanization on hydrochemistry and contamination of groundwater from Taejon area, Korea. J Hydrol 253:194–210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen JS, Chu XL (1988) Sulfur isotope composition of triassic marine sulfates of South China. Chem Geol 72:155–161

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark I, Fritz P (1997) Environmental isotopes in hydrogeology. Lewis Publishers, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Claypool GE, Holser WT, Kaplan IR, Sakai H, Zak I (1980) The age curves for sulfur and oxygen isotopes in marine sulfate and their mutual interpretation. Chem Geol 28:199–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cortecci G, Dinelli E, Bencini A, Adorni-Braccesi A, Ruffa GL (2002) Natural and anthropogenic SO4 sources in the Arno river catchment, northern Tuscany, Italy: a chemical and isotopic reconnaissance. Appl Geochem 17:79–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ford D, Williams P (2007) Karst hydrogeology and geomorphology. Wiley, UN

    Google Scholar 

  • Granan L, Rodhe H, Hallberg RO (1976) The global sulphur cycle. In: Svensson BH, Soderlund R (ed) Nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur-global cycles, vol 22. SCOPE Report 7. Ecol Bull (Stockholm), pp 89–134

  • Grasby SE, Hutcheon I, Krouse HR (1997) Application of the stable isotope composition of SO4 to tracing anomalous TDS in Nose Creek, southern Alberta, Canada. Appl Geochem 12:567–575

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Han G, Liu C (2004) Water geochemistry controlled by carbonate dissolution: a study of the river waters draining karst-dominated terrain, Guizhou Province, China. Chem Geol 204:1–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Helena B, Pardo R, Vega M, Barrado E, Fernandez JM, Fernandez L (2000) Temporal evolution of groundwater composition in an alluvial (Pisuerga river, Spain) by principal component analysis. Water Res 34:807–816

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holser WT, Kaplan IR (1966) Isotope geochemistry of sedimentary sulphates. Chem Geol 1:93–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hong YT, Zhang HB, Zhu Y (1993) Sulfur isotopic characteristics of coal in China and sulfur isotopic fractionation during coal-burning process. Chin J Geochem 12:51–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hong YT, Zhang HB, Zhu YX et al (1994) Characteristics of sulphur isotopic composition of meteoric water in China. Prog Natl Sci 5:741–745 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hosono T, Wang C, Umezawa Y, Nakano T, Onodera S, Nagata T, Yoshimizu C, Tayasu I, Taniguchi M (2010) Multiple isotope (H, O, N, S and Sr) approach elucidates complex pollution causes in the shallow groundwaters of the Taipei urban area. J Hydrol 397:23–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kollarits S, Veselic M, Kuschnig G, Pavicic A, Soccorso C, Aurighi M (2006) Decision-support systems for groundwater protection: innovative tools for resource management. Environ Geol 49:840–848

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lang YC, Liu CQ, Hiroshi S, Wu J, Li SL (2008) δ37Cl and δ34S variations of Cl− and SO4 2− in groundwater and surface water of Guiyang area, China. Adv Earth Sci 23:151–159 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lang YC, Liu CQ, Li SL, Zhao ZQ, Zhou ZH (2011) Tracing natural and anthropogenic sources of dissolved sulfate in a karst region by using major ion chemistry and stable sulfur isotopes. Appl Geochem 26:S202–S205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li XD, Masuda H, Kusakabe M, Yanagisawa F, Zeng HA (2006) Degradation of groundwater quality due to anthropogenic sulfur and nitrogen contamination in the Sichuan Basin, China. Geochem J 40:309–332

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li SL, Calmels D, Han GL, Gaillardet J, Liu CQ (2008) Sulfuric acid as an agent of carbonate weathering constrained by δ13CDIC: examples from Southwest China. Earth Planet Sci Lett 270:189–199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li XD, Liu CQ, Harue M, Li SL, Liu XL (2010) The use of environmental isotopic (C, Sr, S) and hydrochemical tracers to characterize anthropogenic effects on karst groundwater quality: A case study of the Shuicheng Basin, SW China. Appl Geochem 25:1924–1936

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu ZH, Yuan DX, Shen ZL (1991) Effect of coal mine waters of variable pH on springwater quality: a case study. Environ Geol Water Sci 17:219–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu ZH, Li Q, Sun HL, Wang JL (2007) Seasonal, diurnal and storm-scale hydrochemical variations of typical epikarst springs in subtropical karst areas of SW China: Soil CO2 and dilution effects. J Hydrol 337:207–223

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu CQ, Lang YC, Satake H, Wu JH, Li SL (2008) Identification of anthropogenic and natural inputs of sulfate and chloride into the karstic ground water of Guiyang, SW China: combined δ37Cl and δ34S approach. Environ Sci Technol 42:5421–5427

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mizota C, Sasaki A (1996) Sulfur isotope composition of soils and fertilizers: differences between Northern and Southern hemispheres. Geoderma 71:77–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moncaster SJ, Bottrell SH, Tellam JH, Lloyd JW, Konhauser KO (2000) Migration and attenuation of agrochemical pollutants: insights from isotopic analysis of groundwater sulfate. J Contam Hydrol 43:147–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen H, Pilot J, Crinenko LN, Grinenko VA, Lein AY, Smith JW, Pankina RG (1991) Lithospheric sources of sulphur. In: Krouse H, Grinenko V (eds) Stable isotopes in the assessment of natural and anthropogenic sulphur in the environment. SCOPE43. Wiley, Chichester, pp 65–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Nielson H (1974) Isotopic composition of the major contributors to atmospheric sulphur. Tellus 26:211–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Nriagu J, Rees C, Mekhtiyeva V, Lein AY, Fritz P, Drimmie RJ, Pankina RG, Robinson BW, Krouse HR (1991) Hydrosphere. In: Krouse H, Grinenko V (eds) Stable isotopes in the assessment of natural and anthropogenic sulphur in the environment. SCOPE43. Wiley, Chichester, pp 229–230

    Google Scholar 

  • Panettiere P, Cortecci G, Dinelli E, Bencini A, Guidi M (2000) Chemistry and sulfur isotopic composition of precipitation at Bologna, Italy. Appl Geochem 15:1455–1467

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pichlmayer F, Schoner W, Seibert P, Stichler W, Wagenbach D (1998) Stable isotope analysis for characterization of pollutants at high elevation Alpine sites. Atmos Environ 32:4075–4085

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pu JB, Yuan DX, Jiang YJ (2009) Spatial distribution of underground river streams and water resource in the Chongqing Municipality. Hydrogeol Eng Geol 36:34–39 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Querol X, Alastuey A, Chaves A, Spiro B, Plana F, Lopez-Soler A (2000) Sources of natural and anthropogenic sulphur around the Teruel power station, NE Spain: Inferences from sulphur isotope geochemistry. Atmos Environ 34:333–345

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raab M, Spiro B (1991) Sulfur isotopic variations during seawater evaporation with fractional crystallization. Chem Geol 86:323–333

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson BW, Bottrell SH (1997) Discrimination of sulfur sources in pristine and polluted New Zealand river catchments using stable isotopes. Appl Geochem 12:305–319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith BJ, Schumacher JG (1991) Hydrochemical and sediment data for the old lead belt, Southeastern Missouri-1988-89. USGS. Open File Rep91-211, pp 1–98

  • Szynkiewicz A, Witcher J, Modelska M, Borrok DM, Pratt LM (2011) Anthropogenic sulfate loads in the Rio Grande, New Mexico (USA). Chem Geol 283:194–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor BE, Wheeler MC, Nordstom DK (1984) Stable isotope geochemistry of acid mine drainage: experimental oxidation of pyrite. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 48:2669–2678

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thode HD, Monster J (1965) Sulfur isotope gcochemistry of petroleum, evaporates and ancient seas. Am Assoc Pet Geol Mem 4:367–377

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Stempvoort, D.R., Krouse, H.R. (1994) Controls of δ18O in sulfate-review of experimental data and applications to specific environments. In: Alpers CN, Blowes DW (eds) Environmental geochemistry of sulfide oxidation. Am Chem Soc Symp Ser, vol 550, pp 447–480

  • Victòria L, Otero N, Soler A, Canals À (2004) Fertilizer characterization: isotopic data (N, S, O, C, and Sr). Environ Sci Technol 38:3254–3262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White WB (1988) Geomorphology and hydrology of karst terrains. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • WHO (1996) Guidelines for drinking water quality, 2nd edn. In: Health criteria and other supporting information, vol 2. World Health Organization

  • Xiao HY, Liu CQ (2002) Sources of nitrogen and sulfur in wet deposition at Guiyang, southwest China. Atmos Environ 36:5121–5130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yanagisawa F, Sakai H (1983) Precipitation of SO2 for sulphur isotope ratio measurements by the thermal composition of BaSO4-V2O5-SiO2 mixtures. Anal Chem 55:985–987

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yoshimura K, Nakao S, Noto M, Inokura Y, Urata K, Chen M, Lin PW (2001) Geochemical and stable isotope studies on natural water in the Taroko Gorge karst area, Taiwan: chemical weathering of carbonate rocks by deep source CO2 and sulfuric acid. Chem Geol 177:415–430

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan D (1997) Sensitivity of karst process to environmental change along the PEPII transect. Q Int 35:105–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang JH, Liang YP, Wang WT, Han XR, Hou GC et al (2009) A practical use of 34S in the investigation of karst groundwater resource in North China. Carsologica Sinica 28:235–241 (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation Project of Chongqing, CSTC (No.CSTC2010BC7004), National Natural Science Foundation of China (No:41072192), the Special Fund for Public Benefit Scientific Research of Ministry of Land and Resources of China (201111022), the Guangxi Natural Science Foundation Project (2012GXNSFBA053137), and IGCP/SIDA 598 Project. Thanks are given to Yongjun Jiang, Qiong Xiao, Pengfei Gou, Jianjun Yin, and Xingbo Zhang for their help with the field sampling and in the laboratory. We also sincerely thank the two anonymous reviewers, the editors, and Dr. Thierry Bussard for their valuable comments and language modifications, which greatly improved the original manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Karst Dynamics Laboratory, Institute of Karst Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Guilin, 541004, China

    Junbing Pu, Daoxian Yuan, Cheng Zhang & Heping Zhao

  2. International Research Center on Karst under the Auspices of UNESCO, Guilin, 541004, China

    Junbing Pu, Daoxian Yuan & Cheng Zhang

  3. Institute of Karst Environment and Rock Desertification Control, School of Geographical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China

    Daoxian Yuan

Authors
  1. Junbing Pu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Daoxian Yuan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Cheng Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Heping Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Junbing Pu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Pu, J., Yuan, D., Zhang, C. et al. Hydrogeochemistry and possible sulfate sources in karst groundwater in Chongqing, China. Environ Earth Sci 68, 159–168 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-1726-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-1726-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation