The major ions of some lakes and other waters in Queensland, Australia

Abstract

Data relating to major inorganic ions are presented for 33 water bodies in eastern Queensland. Three of these draw supplies from underground sources, the remainder are lakes, lagoons, and an impoundment. The localities fall into five regions: (i) a central-eastern region between Barcaldine and Charters Towers (nine localities); (ii) the Atherton Tablelands (eight localities); (iii) the coast near Cape Bedford (five localities); (iv) the region, between the Great Dividing Range and Ingham (seven localities); and (v) near Rockhampton (four localities). In the first region the localities are fresh except for Lake Buchanan; sodium is the dominant cation in all cases; chloride clearly dominates the anions in Lake Buchanan, the pools peripheral to Lake Galilee, and the spring sampled, but is approximately co-dominant with bicarbonate in the remaining localities supplied by surface waters. In the second and fourth regions all the waters have low salinities (<100 or <300 p.p.m., respectively), divalent cations and bicarbonate are the most important ions, and sulphate is present in negligible amounts. In the third region all localities are very dilute(<60 p.p.m. salinity) and sodium and chloride dominate the ions; pH values are very low as also are concentrations of bicarbonate. In the fifth region sodium and chloride ions again dominate but not to the same extent, and bicarbonate values are higher; salinities range from 106 to 607 p.p.m.