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The hydrochemical implications of the fossilized sandstone aquifer at Wadi Al-Kaniseh, Jordan

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Abstract

Understanding the geochemical evolution of the deep sandstone aquifers of Jordan is severely constrained by the limited knowledge of the mineral phases controlling the chemistry, and the inaccuracy inherent in sampling wellhead water at deep boreholes. The discovery of an exposure of the fossilized deep aquifer at Wadi Al-Kaniseh allows for a better understanding of the geochemical evolution of the deep aquifer waters. The exposure shows three secondary mineral assemblages in various forms. The presumed oldest is represented by halite present between the grains of the sandstone. The second consists of alunite associated with primary gypsum and clay minerals. This indicates that the aquifer contained low (3–4) pH water reacting with the primary minerals to produce the alunite, possibly under relatively high temperatures. The presumed youngest (third) assemblage consists of veins and concretions of carbonate as well as iron oxide (hydroxide), which reflects the mobility of iron (under the aforementioned low pH conditions connected with high dissolved CO2 concentrations). Once the groundwater neared the surface, the pressure release caused a drop in dissolved CO2, a rise in pH and the deposition of the iron and carbonates. Future investigations on the deep waters of Jordan should take into account the possibility that the waters have high CO2 concentrations and low pH, which are drivers of the geochemistry.

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Data availability statement

All of the data used in this manuscript are presented in the tables, figures and maps provided herein. There is no archived data underlying what is presented. The lab results, photographs and GPS points can be obtained from the author.

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Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Ms. Hadeel Herzallah at Yarmouk University for her help in conducting the SEM analysis, as well as Mr. Tareq Bashiti at the Hashemite University for preparing the thin sections. Dr. Abdulla Al Rawabdeh helped prepare the location map. Dr. Catreena Hamarneh helped in the field work and it the photography of the field photographs. She also gave important insight to an earlier draft of this paper. Eng. Fatima Hadidi at the German Jordanian University helped in determining the carbonate contents in the samples. This project was funded by the Abdelhamid Shoman Fund for Scientific Research (5/2015).

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  1. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, German Jordanian University, Amman, Jordan

    Nizar Abu-Jaber

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Correspondence to Nizar Abu-Jaber.

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Abu-Jaber, N. The hydrochemical implications of the fossilized sandstone aquifer at Wadi Al-Kaniseh, Jordan. Carbonates Evaporites 38, 33 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-023-00855-z

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