Spring and surface water quality of the Cyprus ophiolites

Neal, C.; Shand, P.. 2002 Spring and surface water quality of the Cyprus ophiolites. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 6. 797-817. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-6-797-2002

Before downloading, please read NORA policies.

Preview

Text hess-6-797-2002.pdf Download (823kB)

Abstract/Summary

A survey of surface, spring and borehole waters associated with the ophiolite rocks of Cyprus shows five broad water types (1) Mg-HCO3, (2) Na-SO4-Cl-HCO3, (3) Na-Ca-Cl-SO4-OH-CO3, (4) Na-Cl-SO4 and (5) Ca-SO4. The waters represent a progression in chemical reactivity from surface waters that evolve within a groundwater setting due to hydrolysis of the basic/ultrabasic rock as modified by CO2-weathering. An increase in salinity is also observed which is due to mixing with a saline end-member (modified sea-water) and dissolution of gypsum/anhydrite. In some cases, the waters have pH values greater than 11. Such high values are associated with low temperature serpentinisation reactions. The system is a net sink for CO2. This feature is related not only to the hydrolysis of the primary minerals in the rock, but also to CaCO3 or Ca-Mg-CO3 solubility controls. Under hyperalkaline conditions, virtually all the carbon dioxide is lost from the water due to the sufficiently high calcium levels and carbonate buffering is then insignificant. Calcium sulphate solubility controls may also be operative when calcium and sulphate concentrations are particularly high.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-6-797-2002
Programmes:	BGS Programmes > Groundwater Management CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Water
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	_ Water Quality
ISSN:	1027-5606
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (HESS) is an international two-stage open access journal for the publication of original research in hydrology, placed within a holistic Earth System Science context.
Additional Keywords:	GroundwaterBGS, Groundwater, Surface water interaction
Related URLs:	http://www.bgs.ac.uk/research/groundwate...
Date made live:	23 Nov 2010 16:02 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/12301

Actions (login required)

View Item

Document Downloads

More statistics for this item...