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Chemical and physical characteristics of springs discharging from regional flow systems of the carbonate-rock province of the Great Basin, western United States

Caractéristiques chimiques et physiques de sources de décharge d’un système régional d’écoulement souterrain dans la province carbonatée de Great Basin, Ouest des Etats Unis

Características físicas y químicas de la descarga de manantiales de un sistema de flujo regional de la provincia de rocas carbonáticas de Great Basin, en el oeste de Estados Unidos

Características físicas e químicas de nascentes que descarregam a partir de sistemas de fluxo regionais na província de rochas carbonatadas da Grande Bacia, oeste dos Estados Unidos

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Abstract

The regional carbonate aquifer in the carbonate-rock province of the Great Basin, USA, covers thousands of square kilometers. It is a significant potential source of water for growth in this arid area. Few wells penetrate the carbonate aquifer, so information on water quantity and quality is derived in large part from ‘regional springs’ that discharge from regional interbasin flow systems. For this study, springs in the carbonate-rock province were sampled; their physical, chemical, and isotopic characteristics were compared to those of known regional springs to identify previously unrecognized regional waters using both examination of the data and multivariate statistical analysis. Criteria for comparison included temperature, discharge, 3H activity, carbon isotope values, and ratios of major and trace ions. Of the 18 springs selected for detailed chemical and isotopic sampling, five springs—Hot, Littlefield, Petrified, Saratoga, and Warm (a)—were identified as regional, and one (Monte Neva Hot) was identified as a possible regional spring. Regional springs provide an easy, low-cost means of investigating aquifer properties; identification of regional springs thus increases the ability to understand the regional carbonate aquifer. The techniques applied in this study can also be used in other regional aquifer systems with diverse and complex geology.

Résumé

Dans la province carbonatée de Great Basin, USA, l’aquifère régional couvre des miliers de kilomètres carrés. C’est une ressource en eau importante pour la culture dans cette zone aride. Peu de puits pénètrent l’aquifère carbonaté, de sorte que l’information quantitative et qualitative sur l’eau provient en grande partie de “sources régionales” déchargeant un système interbassins régional d’écoulement. Pour identifier des eaux régionales non reconnues, cette étude a comparé leurs caratéristiques physiques, chimiques et isotopiques à des sources de la province carbonatée en utilisant à la fois données et analyse statistique multivariables. Les critères de comparaison incluent la température, le débit, l’activité 3H, les valeurs istopiques du carbone et les ratios des ions majeurs et en traces. Parmi les 18 sources sélectionnées pour échantillonnage chimique et isotopique détaillé, cinq sources—Hot, Littlefield, Petrified, Saratoga, and Warm (a)—ont été identifiées comme régionales, et une (Monte Neva Hot) comme source régionale possible. Les sources régionales offrent un moyen de reconnaissance pratique et peu coûteux des propriétés de l’aquifère; l’identification de sources régionales augmente ainsi la capacité de compréhension de l’aquifère carbonaté régional. Les techniques utilisées dans cette étude peuvent aussi être appliquées à d’autres systèmes aquifères de géologie complexe et variée.

Resumen

El acuífero regional en la provincia de rocas carbonáticas de Great Basin, EEUU, cubre miles de kilómetros cuadrados. Es una fuente potencial significativa de agua para el crecimiento en esta zona árida. Pocos pozos penetran el acuífero carbonático, de manera que la información sobre cantidad y calidad de agua se extrae en gran parte de los “manantiales regionales” que descargan de los sistemas de flujo regionales intercuencas. Para este estudio, se muestrearon los manantiales en la provincia de rocas carbonáticas, sus características físicas, químicas e isotópicas, se compararon con las de los manantiales regionales conocidos para identificar las aguas regionales no reconocidas previamente usando tanto el examen de los datos como análisis estadísticos multivariados. Los criterios para la comparación incluyeron temperatura, descarga, actividad de 3H, valores de isótopos de carbono, y relación entre iones mayoritarios y trazas- De los 18 manantiales seleccionados para el muestreo isotópico y químico detallado, cinco manantiales—Hot, Littlefield, Petrified, Saratoga, and Warm (a— se identificaron como regionales, y uno (Monte Neva Hot) fue identificado como un posible manantial regional. Los manantiales regionales proporcionan un medio sencilla y de bajo costo para investigar las propiedades del acuífero; la identificación de manantiales regionales se incrementa así la capacidad para entender el acuífero carbonático regional. Las técnicas aplicadas en este estudio pueden también ser usadas en otros sistemas de acuíferos regionales con una geología diversa y compleja.

Resumo

O aquífero regional calcário da província de rochas carbonatadas da Grande Bacia, EUA, abrange milhares de quilómetros quadrados. É uma importante fonte de água com potencial para o desenvolvimento desta área árida. Poucos poços intersectam o aquífero carbonatado, pelo que a informação sobre quantidade e qualidade da água é obtida, em grande parte, a partir das ‘nascentes regionais’ que descarregam dos sistemas de fluxo regional dentro das bacias. Para este estudo, foram amostradas nascentes na província de rochas carbonatadas: as suas características físicas, químicas e isotópicas foram comparadas com as das nascentes regionais conhecidas, para identificar previamente águas regionais não reconhecidas, através da análise dos dados e análise estatística multivariada. Foram usados critérios de comparação, incluindo temperatura, caudais, actividade 3H, valores de isótopos de carbono, e as razões dos iões principais e iões traço. Das 18 nascentes seleccionadas para amostragem química e isotópica detalhada, cinco nascentes—Hot, Littlefield, Petrified, Saratoga e Warm (a— foram identificadas como regionais, e uma (Monte Neva Hot) foi identificada como possível nascente regional. As nascentes regionais proporcionam meios fácies e de baixo custo para investigação das propriedades do aquífero, pelo que a sua identificação aumenta a capacidade de compreender o aquífero regional carbonatado. As técnicas aplicadas neste estudo podem também ser usadas noutros sistemas aquíferos regionais com geologia diversa e complexa.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the Southern Nevada Water Authority; however, the opinions and interpretations discussed in this paper are not necessarily those of the Southern Nevada Water Authority. We appreciate comments on a draft manuscript by W. Howcroft, and the review comments by N. Goldscheider, J. Mudry, and an anonymous reviewer, all of which led to significant improvements in the manuscript. The authors also acknowledge the help with location figures by C. Morton and T. Minor of the Desert Research Institute.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Hydrologic Sciences, Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Pkwy, Reno, 89512, NV, USA

    Ronald L. Hershey

  2. Division of Hydrologic Sciences, Desert Research Institute, 755 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, 89119, NV, USA

    Steve A. Mizell

  3. Earth Sciences Department, Millersville University, PO Box 1002, Millersville, PA, 17551, USA

    Sam Earman

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  1. Ronald L. Hershey
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Correspondence to Sam Earman.

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Hershey, R.L., Mizell, S.A. & Earman, S. Chemical and physical characteristics of springs discharging from regional flow systems of the carbonate-rock province of the Great Basin, western United States. Hydrogeol J 18, 1007–1026 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-009-0571-7

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