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Investigation of the hydrogeochemical processes in an alluvial channel aquifer located in a typical Karoo Basin of Southern Africa

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Abstract

An investigation was conducted to assess the hydrogeochemical processes of an alluvial channel aquifer located in a typical Karoo Basin of Southern Africa. The investigation was aimed at identifying and describing the groundwater chemistry evolution and its contribution to the overall groundwater quality. X-ray fluorescent spectrometry (XRF) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) analyses were performed on geological samples to identify and quantify the major element oxides and minerals. The study utilises the conventional Piper diagram, bivariate plots and PHREEQC hydrogeochemical model to analyse groundwater chemistry data obtained during the wet (February and May) and dry seasons (August and December) of 2011. The XRF and XRD results show that the channel deposits are dominated by SiO2 element oxides and quartz minerals, thus elevated concentrations of silicon (Si4+) were found in the groundwater. Dolomite and calcite minerals were also detected in the unconsolidated aquifer sediments. The detailed study of the alluvial aquifer system has shown that dissolution of dolomite and calcite minerals and ion exchange are the dominant hydrogeochemical processes influencing the groundwater quality. The groundwater evolves from Ca2+–Mg2+–HCO3 − recharge water that goes through ion exchange with Na+ in the clay-silt sediment to give a Na+–HCO3 − water type. The groundwater is supersaturated with respect to quartz, dolomite and calcite minerals. The study shows the potential usefulness of simple bivariate plots as a complimentary tool to the conventional methods for analyzing groundwater hydrogeochemical processes.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to acknowledge the support and funding from the Water Research Commission of South Africa (K5/1760 Bulk Flow and K5/1766 Light Non Aqueous Phase Liquid projects), without them this research would not have been possible. The assistance from the Department of Water Affairs in drilling the boreholes at the test site is also greatly appreciated. Furthermore, we wish to acknowledge the University of the Free State for secondary funding for the analysis of samples and other technical work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Groundwater Studies, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa

    M. Gomo & G. J. van Tonder

  2. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa

    G. Steyl

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  1. M. Gomo
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  2. G. J. van Tonder
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  3. G. Steyl
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Correspondence to G. Steyl.

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Gomo, M., van Tonder, G.J. & Steyl, G. Investigation of the hydrogeochemical processes in an alluvial channel aquifer located in a typical Karoo Basin of Southern Africa. Environ Earth Sci 70, 227–238 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-2118-9

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