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Long-term analog of carbonation in travertine from Uleimat Quarries, Central Jordan

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Abstract

Quaternary travertine capping the metamorphic (cement) zones in Uleimat Quarries, central Jordan, has been precipitated from hyperalkaline paleogroundwaters. Such waters are similar to the cement pore water and to the present day hyperalkaline seepages (pH 12.5) in Maqarin, north Jordan. The isotopic depletions observed in Uleimat travertine, with δ13C values as low as −25.45‰, suggest that they have been precipitated during CO2 uptake by highly alkaline calcium hydroxide waters. The travertine in Uleimat Quarries indicates a long-term analog of carbonation and remobilization of silica in cementitious barriers for radioactive waste repositories. The presence of Cr-rich smectites and relatively high levels of Cr (4.1%), V (657 ppm), Ni (163 ppm), Zn (634 ppm) and U (34 ppm) in the green travertine and the associated opaline silica phases suggests the use of the Uleimat travertines as analogs with the repository disturbed zone. Smectites and silica phases are expected to be a sink for alteration products in the late stage evolution of a high pH plume. Co-precipitation of these elements in mineral phases is of great importance to control the concentration of these elements in groundwater.

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Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank the Deanship of Scientific Research at the University of Jordan, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Hannover, Germany, for their support during the progress of this work. Special thanks are given to Dr. R. Dohrmann and Dr. R. Geldern for their help in the analytical work. The revision of this paper by Dr. R. Dohrmann is highly appreciated.

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  1. Department of Geology, University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan

    Hani N. Khoury

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  1. Hani N. Khoury
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Correspondence to Hani N. Khoury.

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Khoury, H.N. Long-term analog of carbonation in travertine from Uleimat Quarries, Central Jordan. Environ Earth Sci 65, 1909–1916 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-1173-y

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