Complementary use of dating and hydrochemical tools to assess mixing processes involving centenarian groundwater in a geologically complex alpine karst aquifer. Issue 20 (23rd July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gil‐Márquez, José Manuel; De la Torre, Beatriz; Mudarra, Matías; Sültenfuß, Jürgen; Andreo, Bartolomé
• Is Part Of: Hydrological processes. Volume 34:Issue 20(2020)
• Page Start: 3981
• Page End: 3999
• Publication Date: 2020-07-23
• Subjects: alpine karst -- binary mixing -- complex aquifer -- groundwater age distribution -- groundwater dating -- hydrochemistry -- lumped parameter models -- shape‐free models; Hydrology -- Periodicals; Hydrology -- Research -- Periodicals; Hydrologic models -- Periodicals; Hydrological forecasting -- Periodicals; 631.432
• DOI: 10.1002/hyp.13848
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0885-6087

Abstract

Abstract: Environmental dating tracers ( 3 H, 3 He, 4 He, CFC‐12, CFC‐11, and SF6 ) and the natural spring response (hydrochemistry, water temperature, and hydrodynamics) were jointly used to assess mixing processes and to characterize groundwater flow in a relatively small carbonate aquifer with complex geology in southern Spain. Results evidence a marked karst behaviour of some temporary outlets, with sharp and rapid responses to precipitation events, while some perennial springs show buffer and delayed variations with respect to recharge periods. The general geochemical evolution shows a pattern, from higher to lower altitudes, in which mineralization and the Mg/Ca ratio rise, evidencing longer water–rock interaction. The large SF6 concentrations in groundwater suggest terrigenic production, whereas CFC‐11 values are affected by sorption or degradation. The groundwater age in the perennial springs—as deduced from CFC‐12 and 3 H/ 3 He—points to mean residence times of several decades, although the large amount of radiogenic 4 He in samples indicate a contribution of old groundwater (free of 3 H and CFC‐12). Lumped parameter models and shape‐free models were created based on 3 H, tritiogenic 3 He, CFC‐12, and radiogenic 4 He data in order to interpret the age distribution of the samples. Results evidence the existence of two mixing components, with an old fraction ranging between 160 and 220 years in age. The correlation of physicochemical parameters with some dating parameters, derived from the mixing models, serves to explain the hydrogeochemical processes occurring within the system. Altogether, long residence times are shown to be possible in small alpine systems with a clearly karst behaviour if the geological setting features highly tectonized media including units with diverse hydrogeological characteristics. These findings highlight the importance of applying different approaches, including groundwater dating techniques, when studying such groundwater flow regimes. Abstract : The combined use of traditional karst hydrogeological methods and environmental dating tracers is useful to reach a better knowledge of small alpine karst areas of complex geology. The application of lumped parameter models and shaped‐free models has revealed a binary groundwater‐age distribution in which an old component of approximately 200 years is involved.