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Hydrogeochemical modeling of the water seepages through Tannur Dam, southern Jordan

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

This paper reveals the geochemical processes of dissolution, precipitation and cation exchange that took place during water–rock interaction between water seepages through the Tannur Dam. The Schoeller diagram indicates that there are three major water types originating during water–rock interaction. The first water type is characterized by low salinity that ranges from 1,300 to 2,800 µs/cm, which represents the reservoir water and the water in the right side of the central gallery. The second water type is in the left side of the central gallery, which exhibits medium salinity that reaches about 4,400 µs/cm. The third water type is characterized by very high salinity that reaches a value of around 8,500 µs/cm and represents the water in the right existing adit. The increase of salinity can be explained due to the dissolution of carbonate and sulfate minerals that form the matrix of the foundation and the abutment rocks, and the dissolution of the grout curtain, which is composed of cement and bentonite. Hydrogeochemical modeling, using a computer code PHREEQC, was used to obtain the saturation indices of specific mineral phases, which might be related to interaction with water seepages, and to identify the chemical species of the dissolved ions. The thermodynamic calculations indicate that most of the water samples were undersaturated with respect to gypsum, anhydrite and halite, and were saturated and/or supersaturated with respect to calcite and dolomite. Ca(HCO3)2 is the primary water type, as a result of dissolution of carbonate minerals such as calcite and dolomite prevailing at the dam site. However, cation-exchange processes are responsible for the formation of the Na2SO4 water type from the CaSO4 type that formed due to the dissolution of gypsum.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Lands, Water and Environment, Department of Water Management and Environment, Hashemite University, P.O. Box 150459, 13115, Zarqa, Jordan

    Ali El Naqa

  2. Specialized Engineering Service Company, P.O. Box 430616, 11143, Amman, Jordan

    Mustafa Al Kuisi

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  1. Ali El Naqa
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  2. Mustafa Al Kuisi
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Correspondence to Ali El Naqa.

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El Naqa, A., Al Kuisi, M. Hydrogeochemical modeling of the water seepages through Tannur Dam, southern Jordan. Env Geol 45, 1087–1100 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-004-0967-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-004-0967-6

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