Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Hydrogeochemical characteristics of karst groundwater in Jinci spring area, north China

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Carbonates and Evaporites Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Integration of the information from hydrochemical data, statistical analysis and modeling technique is crucial for extending our knowledge of hydrochemistry of karst aquifers. In this paper, conventional graphical methods, statistical analysis and PHREEQC inverse modeling were used to investigate the hydrogeochemical characteristics and evolution processes of karst groundwater in Jinci spring area. The results showed that the dominant hydrochemical types of karst groundwater determined by Piper diagram were Ca·Mg–SO4·HCO3, Ca·Mg–SO4, Ca–SO4, Ca–SO4·HCO3 and Ca–HCO3, and the main components of karst groundwater were dominated by rock–water interactions based on statistical analysis. Ca2+, Mg2+ and HCO3− originated mainly from the dissolution of calcite and dolomite; SO42− came mostly from gypsum dissolution and pyrite oxidation; and the source of Na+ and Cl− could either be major from halite dissolution or cation exchange. Moreover, PHREEQC inverse modeling indicated that calcite, gypsum and CO2 (g) were dissolved, and Ca–Mg exchange prevailed along the flow path (from recharge area to runoff area); the dissolution of gypsum, dolomite and CO2 (g), and halite precipitation, and Na–Mg and Ca–Mg exchange occurred along runoff area to discharge area; and there were the dissolution of carbonate, gypsum, halite and CO2 (g), Na–Mg and Ca–Mg exchange from deep buried area to discharge area.

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.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Chapelle FH (1983) Groundwater geochemistry and calcite cementation of the Aquia aquifer in southern Maryland. Water Resour Res 19:545–558

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowell DW, Ford DC (1980) Hydrochemistry of a dolomite karst: the Bruce Peninsula of Ontario. Can J Earth Sci 17:520–526

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbs RJ (1970) Mechanisms controlling world water chemistry. Science 170:1088–1090

    Google Scholar 

  • Han X, Lu R, Li Q (1993) Karst groundwater system: a study on big spring in Shanxi, 1st edn. Geological Publishing House, Beijing (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanshaw BB, Back W (1979) Major geochemical processes in the evolution of carbonate-aquifer systems. J Hydrol 43:287–312

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanshaw BB, Back W (1985) Deciphering hydrological systems by means of geochemical processes. Hydrol Sci J 30:257–271

    Google Scholar 

  • Hao Y, Zhu Y, Zhao Y et al (2009) The role of climate and human influences in the dry-up of the Jinci springs, China. J Am Water Resour As 45:1228–1237

    Google Scholar 

  • Hassen I, Hamzaoui-Azaza F, Bouhlila R (2016) Application of multivariate statistical analysis and hydrochemical and isotopic investigations for evaluation of groundwater quality and its suitability for drinking and agriculture purposes: case of Oum Ali-Thelepte aquifer, central Tunisia. Environ Monit Assess 188:135

    Google Scholar 

  • Jia Z, Zang H, Hobbs P et al (2017) Application of inverse modeling in a study of the hydrogeochemical evolution of karst groundwater in the Jinci spring region, northern China. Environ Earth Sci 76:312

    Google Scholar 

  • Kenoyer GJ, Bowser CJ (1992) Groundwater chemical evolution in a sandy silicate aquifer in northern Wisconsin: 1. patterns and rates of change. Water Resour Res 28:579–589

    Google Scholar 

  • Li X, Shu L, Liu L, Yin D, Wen J (2012) Sensitivity analysis of groundwater level in Jinci spring basin (China) based on artificial neural network modeling. Hydrogeol J 20:727–738

    Google Scholar 

  • Li Z, Wang G, Wang X et al (2018) Groundwater quality and associated hydrogeochemical processes in Northwest Namibia. J Geochem Explor 186:202–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Lipson DS, Mccray JE, Thyne GD (2007) Using PHREEQC to simulate solute transport in fractured bedrock. Groundwater 45:468–472

    Google Scholar 

  • Long DT, Saleem ZA (1974) Hydrogeochemistry of carbonate groundwaters of an urban area. Water Resour Res 10:1229–1238

    Google Scholar 

  • López-Chicano M, Bouamama M, Vallejos A, Pulido-Bosch A (2001) Factors which determine the hydrogeochemical behaviour of karstic springs. A case study from the Betic Cordilleras, Spain. Appl Geochem 16:1179–1192

    Google Scholar 

  • Lv C, Ling M, Wu Z et al (2018) Analysis of groundwater variation in the Jinci Spring area, Shanxi province (China), under the influence of human activity. Environ Geochem Health 41:921–928

    Google Scholar 

  • Mallick J, Singh CK, AlMesfer MK et al (2018) Hydro-geochemical assessment of groundwater quality in Aseer Region, Saudi Arabia. Water 10:1847

    Google Scholar 

  • Martínez DE, Quiroz Londoño OM, Massone HE, Palacio Buitrago P, Lima L (2012) Hydrogeochemistry of fluoride in the Quequen river basin: natural pollutants distribution in the argentine pampa. Environ Earth Sci 65:411–420

    Google Scholar 

  • Merkel BJ, Friedrich BP (2005) Groundwater geochemistry—a practical guide to modeling of natural and contaminated aquatic systems. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Morán-Ramírez J, Ledesma-Ruiz R, Mahlknecht J, Ramos-Leal JA (2016) Rock–water interactions and pollution processes in the volcanic aquifer system of Guadalajara, Mexico, using inverse geochemical modeling. Appl Geochem 68:79–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Naik PK, Awasthi AK, Anand AVSS, Behera PN (2009) Hydrogeochemistry of the Koyna River basin, India. Environ Earth Sci 59:613–629

    Google Scholar 

  • Parkhurst DL (1997) Geochemical mole-balance modeling with uncertain data. Water Resour Res 33:1957–1970

    Google Scholar 

  • Pinault JL, Plagnes V, Aquilina L, Bakalowicz M (2001) Inverse modeling of the hydrological and the hydrochemical behavior of hydrosystems: characterization of karst system functioning. Water Resour Res 37:2191–2204

    Google Scholar 

  • Piper AM (1944) A graphic procedure in the geochemical interpretation of water analysis. Trans Am Geophys Union 25:914–923

    Google Scholar 

  • Raju NJ, Patel P, Reddy BCSR, Suresh U, Reddy TVK (2016) Identifying source and evaluation of hydrogeochemical processes in the hard rock aquifer system: geostatistical analysis and geochemical modeling techniques. Environ Earth Sci 75:1157

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao NS, Rao PS, Reddy GV et al (2012) Chemical characteristics of groundwater and assessment of groundwater quality in Varaha River Basin, Visakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh, India. Environ Monit Assess 184:5189–5214

    Google Scholar 

  • Reddy AGS, Kumar KN (2010) Identification of the hydrogeochemical processes in groundwater using major ion chemistry: a case study of Penna-Chitravathi River basins in southern India. Environ Monit Assess 170:365–382

    Google Scholar 

  • Scanlon BR (1990) Relationships between groundwater contamination and major-ion chemistry in a karst aquifer. J Hydrol 119:271–291

    Google Scholar 

  • Scanlon BR (2010) Physical controls on hydrochemical variability in the Inner Bluegrass Karst Region of central Kentucky. Groundwater 27:639–646

    Google Scholar 

  • Scanlon BR, Thrailkill J (1987) Chemical similarities among physically distinct spring types in a karst terrain. J Hydrol 89:259–279

    Google Scholar 

  • Shanyengana ES, Seely MK, Sanderson RD (2004) Major-ion chemistry and ground-water salinization in ephemeral floodplains in some arid regions of Namibia. J Arid Environ 57:211–223

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharif MU, Davis RK, Steele KF et al (2008) Inverse geochemical modeling of groundwater evolution with emphasis on arsenic in the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer, Arkansas (USA). J Hydrol 350:41–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh CK, Kumar A, Shashtri S et al (2017) Multivariate statistical analysis and geochemical modeling for geochemical assessment of groundwater of Delhi, India. J Geochem Explor 175:59–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Uliana MM, Sharp J (2001) Tracing regional flow paths to major springs in Trans-Pecos Texas using geochemical data and geochemical models. Chem Geol 179:53–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Varol S, Davraz A (2015) Evaluation of the groundwater quality with WQI (Water Quality Index) and multivariate analysis: a case study of the Tefenni plain (Burdur/Turkey). Environ Earth Sci 73:1725–1744

    Google Scholar 

  • Weijden CHVD, Pacheco FAL (2006) Hydrogeochemistry in the Vouga River basin (central Portugal): pollution and chemical weathering. Appl Geochem 21:580–613

    Google Scholar 

  • Xing L, Guo H, Zhan Y (2013) Groundwater hydrochemical characteristics and processes along flow paths in the north China plain. J Asian Earth Sci 70–71:250–264

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang P, Cheng Q, Xie S et al (2017) Hydrogeochemistry and geothermometry of deep thermal water in the carbonate formation in the main urban area of Chongqing, China. J Hydrol 549:50–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang Y, Guo T, Jiao W (2018) Destruction processes of mining on water environment in the mining area combining isotopic and hydrochemical tracer. Environ Pollut 237:356–365

    Google Scholar 

  • Zang H, Zheng X, Jia Z, Chen J, Qin Z (2015) The impact of hydrogeochemical processes on karst groundwater quality in arid and semiarid area: a case study in the Liulin spring area, north China. Arab J Geosci 8:6507–6519

    Google Scholar 

  • Zheng X, Zang H, Zhang Y et al (2018) A study of hydrogeochemical processes on karst groundwater using a mass balance model in the Liulin spring area, north China. Water 10:903

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The work was supported by Institute of Karst Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, China. The authors would like to thank Liang Yongping and Tang Chunlei for their help on hydrochemical sampling campaigns, data collections and technical support

Author information

Author notes

  1. Shuaishuai Lu and Junfeng Chen contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Water Resources Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024, China

    Shuaishuai Lu, Junfeng Chen, Xiuqing Zheng & Xuqiang Li

  2. Institute of Karst Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Guilin, 541004, China

    Yongping Liang

  3. Shanxi Institute of Water Resources, Taiyuan, 030001, China

    Zhenxing Jia

Authors
  1. Shuaishuai Lu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Junfeng Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xiuqing Zheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yongping Liang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Zhenxing Jia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Xuqiang Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xiuqing Zheng.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lu, S., Chen, J., Zheng, X. et al. Hydrogeochemical characteristics of karst groundwater in Jinci spring area, north China. Carbonates Evaporites 35, 68 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-020-00602-8

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-020-00602-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation