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Isotopic and hydrochemical evidence for the source and mechanism of groundwater salinization in Kashan Plain aquifer in Iran

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Abstract

Groundwater salinization and interaction between Playa Lake and regional groundwater were investigated using multi-chemo-isotopic evidences. Forty groundwater and 26 Kashan Playa Lake (KPL) water samples were collected and analyzed for their geochemical compositions. The evolution of hydrochemical facies in Kashan Plain Aquifer (KPA) to KPL is Ca-HCO3 (19%), Mix Ca–Cl (9%), Ca–Cl (17%), and Mix Na-Cl and Na-Cl (55%). Also, the Hydrochemical Facies Evolution Diagram (HFE-D) proposed cation exchange as the main process of salinization in KPA. Based on the binary hydrogeochemical diagrams of (Na+/Cl−)/Cl−, (Ca2+ + Mg2+)/HCO3− + SO42−, and Cl/Br, dissolution of halite and gypsum in the Miocene marlstone in the KPA is the main source of salinity. The δ18O of water in aquifer and playa water samples varies from –10.03 to 7.03‰ (VSMOW) with an average of –6.95‰ and –60.73 to 25.08‰ with average of –45.82‰ for δ2H. Based on the results, the relation between δ18O and δ2H, and δ18O and Br, approves discharge of saline water from KPA to KPL. Likewise, the isotopic composition of δ34SO4, varies from 5.95 to 22.55‰ CDT in KPA, and 5.95 to 9.99 ‰ CDT in KPL. Also, the relations between δ18O-δ34SSO4 and Cl-δ34S were non-linear, indicating that sulfur concentration in KPA and KPL changed due to sulfide oxidation and sulfate reduction in the freshwater and deep brines in the aquifer and mixed during the over-pumping in the KPA. Oxidation of sulfide minerals in the mineralized region in the western part of the aquifer (recharge zone) may have been the source of sulfur leached by seasonal runoff. Water–rock interaction, ion exchange, and hydraulic gradient have been the dominating factors in changing the water chemistry between aquifer and playa leading to saline groundwater discharged to the playa.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the staff of geochemistry of Ján Veizer Laboratory of advanced research complex (ARC) at the University of Ottawa, Canada; Smita Mohanty, Nimal De Silva, Wendy Abdi, Paul Middlestead, and Wickham Patricia for their support during lab work. Geophysical data was provided by Kavir Electric Land Consulting Engineers and their help is greatly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Renewable Energies and Environment, Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Mohammad Mirzavand

  2. University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Fereydoun Ghazban

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MM contributed in sampling, analysis, interpretation, and writing of manuscript. Also, FGh contributed in interpretation and writing of manuscript. All the authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Fereydoun Ghazban.

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Mirzavand, M., Ghazban, F. Isotopic and hydrochemical evidence for the source and mechanism of groundwater salinization in Kashan Plain aquifer in Iran. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 34575–34593 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-17457-8

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