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Assessment of groundwater mineralization processes in the Garâat Douza-Tebeddit shallow aquifer, Southwestern Tunisia: an integrated geoelectrical and hydrochemical approach

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Abstract

The present study uses an integrate geoelectrical and hydrochemical approach to assess the processes of groundwater mineralization in the Plio-Quaternary shallow aquifer of the Garâat Douza-Tebeddit basin, Southwestern Tunisia. The interpretation of major ion analyses demonstrates that the mineralization is controlled by natural and anthropogenic processes. Natural processes include the dissolution of evaporate minerals namely halite, gypsum/anhydrite and epsomite, the cation exchange process and the encroachment of salt-water from the Sebkha of Garâat Douza discharge area. These processes are confirmed through the Kelley and expanded Durov diagrams, which indicate that the shallow aquifer groundwaters are likely, mixed with different types and have undergone sulphate and sodium chloride mixing with old stagnant sodium chloride dominated salt-water. The anthropogenic mineralization process corresponds to the contamination by the leached of nitrogen fertilizers through the return flow of irrigation waters. The geoelectrical survey demonstrated the predominance of relatively low resistivity values of the shallow aquifer near the discharge zone, which gradually increase as one moves away towards the recharge zones, indicating the encroachment of Sebkha salt water in the surficial water table.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Gafsa, Gafsa, Tunisia

    Abdelkader Mhamdi

  2. Research Laboratory of Sedimentary Basins and Petroleum Geology (LR18ES07), Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia

    Abdelkader Mhamdi

  3. Research Laboratory of Sciences and Environmental Technologies (LR16ES09), ISET, Borj Cedria, University of Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia

    Ilhem Moussaoui, Meriem Tarki & Lassâad Dassi

  4. Institut de recherche en mines et en environnement (IRME), Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT), Campus d’Amos, 341 Principale Nord, suite 5004, Amos, QC, J9T 2L8, Canada

    Ilhem Moussaoui

  5. Research Water, Energy, Environment (LR99ES35), National School of Engineers of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia

    Chaouki khalfi

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  1. Abdelkader Mhamdi
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  2. Ilhem Moussaoui
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Mhamdi, A., Moussaoui, I., khalfi, C. et al. Assessment of groundwater mineralization processes in the Garâat Douza-Tebeddit shallow aquifer, Southwestern Tunisia: an integrated geoelectrical and hydrochemical approach. Carbonates Evaporites 37, 33 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-022-00781-6

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