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Carbon-14 age and chemical evolution of Ca(HCO3)2-type groundwater of age less than 8,000 years in a confined sandy and muddy Pleistocene aquifer, Japan

Datação por carbono-14 e evolução química de águas subterrâneas do tipo Ca(HCO3)2-com menos de 8,000 anos num aquífero arenoso e lodoso confinado plistocénico, Japão

Âge au Carbone14 et évolution chimique d’eaux souterraines de type Ca(HCO3)2 de moins de 8000 ans d’âge dans un aquifère sablo-argileux captif du Pléistocène au Japon

Edad carbono-14 y evolución química de agua subterránea tipo Ca(HCO3)2-de edad menor que 8000 años en un acuífero confinado arenoso y fangoso del Pleistoceno, Japón

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Abstract

The Pleistocene Kimitsu aquifer was selected for examination of the relationship between groundwater age and chemical evolution of Ca(HCO3)2-type groundwater. For the most part, the aquifer is confined and composed mainly of quartz and feldspar with a small amount of calcite. The groundwater ages calculated by 14C were adjusted by using a carbon mass-balance method and corrected for effects of 14C diffusion. Groundwater ages in the Kimitsu aquifer vary from modern (upgradient) to approximately 2,400 years at 4.4 km from the edge of the recharge area. The 14C age was verified by groundwater velocity calculated from the hydraulic gradient and hydraulic conductivity. The confined groundwater evolved to Ca(HCO3)2-type around 50 years after recharge and this has been maintained for more than 8,300 years due to low chemical reactivity, derived from equilibrium with calcite, kaolinite and Ca-montmorillonite. In addition, high pH prevents the dissolution of Fe and Mn. Consequently, the rate of increase in electrical conductivity ranges from 10 to 30 μS/cm per 1,000 years. On the other hand, leakage from the deep region, which is recognized from high Cl– levels, causes remarkable increases in CH4 and HCO3 – concentrations, resulting in an apparent sulfidic zone at 500-m depth in most downgradient regions.

Resumo

O aquífero plistocénico Kimitsu foi selecionado para análise das relações entre a idade das águas subterrâneas e a evolução química dessas mesmas águas de tipo Ca(HCO3)2. Na sua maior parte, o aquífero é confinado e composto principalmente por quartzo e feldspato com uma pequena quantidade de calcite. A idade da água subterrânea, calculada a partir do 14C, foi ajustada através de um método de balanço de massa e corrigida para os efeitos de difusão do 14C. A idade da água subterrânea do aquífero Kimitsu varia desde moderna (a montante) até aproximadamente 2,400 anos a 4.4 km do centro da área de recarga. A idade 14C foi verificada pela velocidade da água subterrânea calculada a partir do gradiente hidráulico e da condutividade hidráulica. A água subterrânea confinada evoluiu para tipo Ca(HCO3)2 cerca de 50 anos após a recarga e esta situação mantem-se por mais de 8,300 anos, devido à limitada reatividade química, derivada do equilíbrio com a calcite, caulinite e montmorilonite-Ca. Para além disso, elevados valores de pH impedem a dissolução de Fe e Mn. Consequentemente, a taxa de incremento da condutividade elétrica varia de 10 a 30 μS/cm por cada 1,000 anos. Por outro lado, a percolação a partir de zonas profundas, que é reconhecida pelos valores elevados de Cl, causa incrementos importantes nas concentrações de CH4 e HCO3, resultando numa aparente zona sulfídrica a 500 m de profundidade na maioria das regiões a jusante.

Résumé

L’aquifère pléistocène de Kimitsu a été sélectionné pour étudier la relation entre l’âge des eaux souterraines et l’évolution chimique d’eaux souterraines de type Ca(HCO3)2. Pour l’essentiel, l’aquifère est captif et composé principalement de quartz et feldspath avec une faible quantité de calcite. Les âges de l’eau souterraine calculés par 14C ont été ajustés en utilisant la méthode d’équilibre de masse du carbone et corrigés des effets de la diffusion du 14C. Les âges des eaux souterraines de l’aquifère de Kimitsu sont comprises entre des âges récents dans la partie amont et environ 2400 ans pour les eaux souterraines situées à 4.4 km du bord de la zone de recharge. L’âge au 14C a été vérifié à partir du calcul de la vitesse des eaux souterraines en considérant le gradient et la conductivité hydraulique. L’eau souterraine confinée a évolué vers un type Ca(HCO3)2 environ 50 ans après la recharge, évolution qui s’est maintenue durant de plus de 8300 ans, à cause de la faible réactivité chimique, déduite de l’équilibre avec la calcite, kaolinite et Ca-montmorillonite. De plus, une forte valeur du pH empêche la dissolution du Fe et Mn. En conséquence, le taux d’augmentation de la conductivité électrique s’étend de 10 à 30μS/cm par 1,000 ans. Par ailleurs, des flux d’eau provenant des parties profondes de l’aquifère, reconnues comme ayant des niveaux de concentrations en Cl– élevées, provoquent des augmentations considérables des concentrations de CH4 et HCO3 –, et des zones évidentes riches en sulfures à des profondeurs de -500m dans la plupart des régions situées en aval hydraulique.

Resumen

Se seleccionó el acuífero Kimitsu para examinar la relación entre la edad del agua subterránea y la evolución química de agua subterránea de tipo Ca(HCO3)2. En su mayor parte, el acuífero está confinado y compuesto principalmente de cuarzo y feldespato con una pequeña cantidad de calcita. Las edades del agua subterránea calculadas con 14C se ajustaron utilizando un método de balance de masa de carbono y se corrigieron por efectos de la difusión de 14C. Las edades del agua subterránea en el acuífero Kimitsu varían desde modernas (gradiente arriba) hasta aproximadamente 2,400 años a 4.4 km del límite del área de recarga, La edad 14C se verificó a través de la velocidad del agua subterránea calculada a partir del gradiente hidráulico y la conductividad hidráulica. El agua subterránea confinada evolucionó hacia el tipo Ca(HCO3)2-en alrededor de 50 años después de la recarga y esto se ha mantenido por más de 8,300 años debido a la baja reactividad química derivada del equilibrio con la calcita, caolinita y montmorillonita Ca. Además, el alto pH previene la disolución de Fe y Mn. Consecuentemente, el ritmo de incremento de la conductividad eléctrica está entre 10 y 30 μS/cm cada 1,000 años. Por otra parte, la filtración de la región profunda, reconocida a través de altos niveles de Cl–, causa marcados incrementos en la concentración de CH4 y HCO3 –, lo que resulta en una aparente zona sulfurosa a 500-m de profundidad en la mayoría de las regiones gradiente abajo.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the special corporation of the Environment Preservation Division in Kimitsu City, Chiba Prefecture. The authors were advised on the hydrogeology in Kimitsu by Dr. Hisashi Nirei, an honorary professor of Ibaraki University, and Mr. Yoshikazu Suzuki, the president of Geo-pollution Investigation and Remediation with Kimitsu System.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geological survey of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Chuo 7, 1-1-1 Higashi Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, 305-8567, Japan

    Isao Machida & Mio Takeuchi

  2. Department of Earth and Planetary Science, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan

    Yohey Suzuki

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  1. Isao Machida
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  2. Yohey Suzuki
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Correspondence to Isao Machida.

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Machida, I., Suzuki, Y. & Takeuchi, M. Carbon-14 age and chemical evolution of Ca(HCO3)2-type groundwater of age less than 8,000 years in a confined sandy and muddy Pleistocene aquifer, Japan. Hydrogeol J 21, 1289–1305 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-013-0990-3

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