Affiliation:
1. Xi’an Center of China Geological Survey, Xi’an 710119, China
2. Key Laboratory for Groundwater and Ecology in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas, China Geological Survey, Xi’an 710119, China
Abstract
The hydrogeochemical research of groundwater in the Bieletan area, China’s largest potash producing zone, used a variety of methods, including multivariate analysis, saturation index, and hydrogeochemical modeling. Water samples were collected and analyzed for physicochemical parameters, along with soluble ions from soil cores. The results showed that total dissolved solids (TDS) of groundwater exceeded 300 g/L, with the main hydrochemical characteristics being Cl-Mg type and Cl-Na type. Groundwater is recharged by lake water and canal water, with evaporation being the main factor affecting water chemistry. Hydrogeochemical modeling analyzed the processes occurring from these two different recharge sources: mineral precipitation mainly occurred with lake water recharge, while mineral dissolution mainly occurred with canal water recharge. Regarding potash dissolution, canal water and lake water recharge resulted in 8.860 mmol/L of polyhalite dissolution and 0.278 mmol/L of carnallite dissolution, respectively. This study highlights the complex hydrogeochemical processes controlling groundwater in the potash-rich Bieletan area, providing insights for water resource management and potash mining.
Funder
China Strategic Geological Survey Project: Water Resources Survey in the Salt Lake Area of the Qaidam Basin
Qinghai Environmental Geological Survey Bureau Science and Technology Project “Study on Water Balance and Hydrodynamic Mechanism of the Qarhan Salt Lake under Changing Environmental Conditions”
Key Research and Development Program of Shaanxi