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Water chemistry of Mansar Lake (India): an indication of source area weathering and seasonal variability

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

The chemistry of major elements (Ca, Mg, Na, K and Si) and anions (HCO3, SO4 and Cl) in the water of Mansar Lake was studied, based on seasonal data. The results show that total dissolved solid (TDS) concentration in a particular season is similar, but varies slightly in different seasons with a variation factor of less than 2. This is because the collections were made in the dry seasons and the Ca-precipitation is the cause for the seasonal variability. The major element chemistry of Mansar Lake is mainly controlled by rock weathering, with HCO3 and Ca dominating the major ion composition because of the abundance of carbonate rocks in the basin. The results also indicate that the lake water is saturated with respect to calcite and/or dolomite during the spring season whereas it is undersaturated in the summer season. This contrast brings out seasonal variability. The lake shows disequilibrium with atmospheric CO2 as a result of carbonate dissolution in the drainage basin. The study also shows that physical weathering/erosion is dominant and that chemical weathering is incipient. This is consistent with the Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA) data.

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Acknowledgements

This research received financial support from Department of Science and Technology, the Government of India, under a research project (ES/23/186/93) awarded to B.K.D, which is thankfully acknowledged. The authors are thankful to the anonymous referees for their suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology and Environmental Science, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Republic of Yemen

    Ahmed S. Al-Mikhlafi

  2. Centre of Advanced Study in Geology, Panjab University, Chandigarh-600-4, India

    Brijraj K. Das & Parkash Kaur

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  1. Ahmed S. Al-Mikhlafi
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  2. Brijraj K. Das
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  3. Parkash Kaur
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Correspondence to Brijraj K. Das.

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Al-Mikhlafi, A.S., Das, B.K. & Kaur, P. Water chemistry of Mansar Lake (India): an indication of source area weathering and seasonal variability. Env Geol 44, 645–653 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-003-0798-x

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