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Hydrochemistry of hot springs in geothermal fields of central, northern, and northeastern Taiwan: implication on occurrence and enrichment of arsenic

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Abstract

Elevated arsenic (As) levels in geothermal systems have been identified in many places of the world. In this study, hydrochemical features and occurrence of As in hot springs from three geothermal fields located in northern, northeastern (NE), and central Taiwan were characterized. The results showed remarkable differences in pH and dissolved ions among these springs, due to their strong association with different geological origins. The acidic springs in the north field were associated with igneous rocks and were of Na–Ca–SO4 type, whereas neutral-alkaline springs in the NE and central fields were distributed in sedimentary and metamorphic rocks and were of Na-HCO3 and Na–Ca–HCO3 types. Geochemical modeling suggests that ionic variation is redox-sensitive, interrelated, and consistent with mineral saturation. Dissolution of carbonate minerals in sedimentary and metamorphic rocks would result in enrichment of HCO3 −, whereas oxidation of sulfur minerals associated with igneous rocks might be responsible for the low pH and elevated sulfate concentrations. Stable isotope signatures showed depletion of δD values in hot springs associated sedimentary and metamorphic rocks compared to those from igneous rocks. This suggested their mixing with local meteoric water or salt water, and their chemical compositions were influenced by water–rock interaction. Aqueous As concentrations were less than 100 µg/L in most springs except the one in the north field, where it peaked at 3867 µg/L. The elevated As level was presumably source-dependent and the presence of As-bearing pyrite in acidic-sulfate spring might be responsible for the geochemical anomaly of high As.

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Acknowledgments

This paper was partially financially supported by the National Science Council of Taiwan (Grant Project No. NSC99-2116-M-006-010) and by the International Science and Technology Cooperation of China (2014DFA91000). Helps from the first branch of River Management, Water Resources Bureau in Yilan, Professor John McArthur of University College London and Mr. Selim Reza, Mr. Chun-Chi Wang, Ms. Mei-Hui Lee, Mr. Hung-Ming Lee for collecting hot spring water samples were greatly appreciated. We also thank Dr. Chung-Ho Wang (Institute of Earth Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan) for his stable isotopic analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan

    Jiin-Shuh Jean, Sandeep Kar, Chia-Chuan Liu & Zhaohui Li

  2. Beijing Key Laboratory of Materials Utilization of Nonmetallic Minerals and Solid Wastes, National Laboratory of Mineral Materials, School of Materials Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China

    Libing Liao & Zhaohui Li

  3. Geosciences Department, University of Wisconsin – Parkside, Kenosha, WI, 53144, USA

    Zhaohui Li

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  1. Jiin-Shuh Jean
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Correspondence to Zhaohui Li.

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Jean, JS., Liao, L., Kar, S. et al. Hydrochemistry of hot springs in geothermal fields of central, northern, and northeastern Taiwan: implication on occurrence and enrichment of arsenic. Environ Earth Sci 75, 1316 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-6128-x

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