Abstract
Shallow near-surface brines are a fundamental hydrochemical component of arid and semi-arid regions, providing commercially valuable elements and ecologically important environments, yet their chemical evolution is frequently misinterpreted. Some of this misinterpretation stems from the assumptions that evaporation has caused the observed concentration, that all “evaporate” minerals are formed by evaporation, or that there is a chemically closed system. These major processes, while obvious, are surprisingly nuanced and at times the wrong explanation.
Résumé
Les saumures peu profondes proches de la surface sont un composant hydrochimique fondamental des régions arides et semi-arides, fournissant des éléments commercialement précieux et des environnements écologiquement importants, pourtant leur évolution chimique est fréquemment mal interprétée. Une partie de cette mauvaise interprétation découle des hypothèses selon lesquelles l’évaporation est à l’origine de la concentration observée, que tous les minéraux “évaporés” sont formés par évaporation, et/ou qu’il existe un système chimiquement fermé. Ces processus majeurs, bien qu’évidents, sont étonnamment nuancés et constituent parfois une mauvaise explication.
Resumen
Las salmueras someras cercanas a la superficie son un componente hidroquímico fundamental de las regiones áridas y semiáridas, ya que proporcionan elementos comercialmente valiosos y entornos ecológicamente importantes; sin embargo, su evolución química suele interpretarse erróneamente. Parte de esta interpretación errónea proviene de las suposiciones de que la evaporación ha causado la concentración observada, de que todos los minerales "evaporados" se forman por evaporación y/o de que existe un sistema químicamente cerrado. Estos procesos principales, aunque obvios, tienen matices sorprendentes y a veces una explicación errónea.
摘要
浅层近地表卤水是干旱和半干旱地区的基本水化学成分,提供了有商业价值的元素和重要的生态环境,但它们的化学演变却经常被误解。这种误解有的源于这样的假设:蒸发造成了观察到的浓度,所有 “蒸发” 的矿物都是由蒸发形成的,和/或有一个化学上的封闭系统。这些主要的过程虽然很明显,但却有令人惊讶的细微差别,有时是错误的解释。
Resumo
As salmouras rasas próximas à superfície são um componente hidroquímico fundamental de regiões áridas e semiáridas, fornecendo elementos comercialmente valiosos e ambientes ecologicamente importantes, mas sua evolução química é frequentemente mal interpretada. Algumas dessas interpretações errôneas decorrem das suposições de que a evaporação causou a concentração observada, que todos os minerais “evaporados” são formados por evaporação e/ou que existe um sistema quimicamente fechado. Esses processos principais, embora óbvios, são surpreendentemente matizados e, às vezes, a explicação errada.
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Wood, W.W. Shallow brines, an enigmatic story. Hydrogeol J 32, 109–112 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-023-02608-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-023-02608-7