The lithium, boron and strontium isotopic systematics of groundwaters from an arid aquifer system: implications for recharge and weathering processes

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dc.contributor.authorMeredith, KTen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMoriguti, Ten_AU
dc.contributor.authorTomascak, Pen_AU
dc.contributor.authorHollins, SEen_AU
dc.contributor.authorNakamura, Een_AU
dc.date.accessioned2014-04-27T23:41:31Zen_AU
dc.date.available2014-04-27T23:41:31Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2013-07-01en_AU
dc.date.statistics2014-04-28en_AU
dc.description.abstractSaline groundwaters are common to inland Australia, but their hydrochemical evolution and origin remain largely unknown. The saline groundwaters in the alluvial aquifers of the Darling River have previously been found to exhibit broad similarity in traditional hydrochemical and isotopic tracers. By contrast, in this study the trace element isotopes (delta Li-7, delta B-11 and Sr-87/Sr-86) have illuminated more complex hydrogeochemical processes in the same aquifer system. This paper reports the first ever set of delta Li-7 values in any groundwater system in Australia. They varied from +5.8 to +16.2 with an average value of +9.7 parts per thousand (n = 19) in the alluvial aquifers of the Darling River catchment. The delta B-11 values were all higher than seawater and close to some of the highest delta B-11 values ever reported in the literature for a groundwater system (+44.4 to +53.9; average: +48.8, n = 17). The Sr-87/Sr-86 ratios ranged from 0.708 to 0.713, with an average value of 0.709 (n = 19). The differing signatures in these trace element isotope values, highlighted by discovery of the deeper older groundwater system with heavier Li isotope values and higher Sr-87/Sr-86, is an important finding of this research. Simple mixing models between river water and saline groundwater cannot explain the observed variation in trace element isotopes. Hydrochemical evolution was found to be dependent on proximity to the Darling River and depth. Varying degrees of Li and B isotopic fractionation during water-sediment interaction were interpreted to account for the evolution of the saline groundwaters. The measurement of these trace element isotopes has permitted delineation of groundwater end-members that would have otherwise not been identified; in their absence an inaccurate interpretation of the hydrochemical evolution of these saline groundwaters would have been made. This study highlights the importance of a multi-tracer approach, which includes trace element isotopes, in resolving complex geochemical processes in groundwater in semi-arid to arid zone environments. Crown copyright © 2013, Elsevier Ltd.en_AU
dc.identifier.citationMeredith, K., Moriguti, T., Tomascak, P., Hollins, S., & Nakamura, E. (2013). The lithium, boron and strontium isotopic systematics of groundwaters from an arid aquifer system: implications for recharge and weathering processes. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 112, 20-31. doi:10.1016/j.gca.2013.02.022en_AU
dc.identifier.govdoc4991en_AU
dc.identifier.issn0016-7037en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleGeochimica et Cosmochimica Actaen_AU
dc.identifier.pagination20-31en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2013.02.022en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/5497en_AU
dc.identifier.volume112en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherPergamon-Elsevier Science Ltden_AU
dc.subjectLithiumen_AU
dc.subjectBoronen_AU
dc.subjectStrontiumen_AU
dc.subjectIsotopesen_AU
dc.subjectGround wateren_AU
dc.subjectArid landsen_AU
dc.subjectIonizationen_AU
dc.subjectSpectroscopyen_AU
dc.subjectContinental crusten_AU
dc.subjectFractionationF
dc.subjectGeochemistryen_AU
dc.titleThe lithium, boron and strontium isotopic systematics of groundwaters from an arid aquifer system: implications for recharge and weathering processesen_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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