Characteristics and Formation of Salty Springs in Yanyuan County of Sichuan

doi:10.19657/j.geoscience.1000-8527.2020.01.16

Abstract

Abstract:

Studies of the formation of natural salty springs are helpful in revealing the migration of substance during hydrological circulations in the land. In this paper, hydrogeochemical methods are used to analyze the hydrochemical and isotopic characteristics of nine samples of the springs and brine in Yanyuan County of Sichuan Pro-vince, explore the source of the solutes in the water samples, and summarize the genetic model of the salty springs. The samples include the brine sample with TDS of 311.69 g/L and Cl-Na type, salty springs with TDS of 55.77-89.43 g/L and Cl-Na type,brackish spring with TDS of 1.17 g/L and Cl-Na type and fresh springs with TDS of 0.26-0.56 g/L and mainly HCO₃-Ca and HCO₃·SO₄-Ca·Mg types. The stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes of the water samples indicate that the springs are of meteoric origin. The characteristic ion ratios show that they are of lixiviation type and have no indications of potash prospecting. The salinity of the springs is mainly derived from the incongruent dissolution of minerals such as halite, gypsum, calcite and dolomite. The formation mechanisms of salty springs are summarized as follows: after receiving infiltration of precipitation in the mountain areas, groundwater undergoes shallow and deep circulations, obtains increasing TDS as a result of the incongruent dissolution of salt-bearing strata or salt mines, and gather in lower topography to emerge to the land surface in the form of springs.

Key words: salty spring, brine, hydrochemistry, genesis, Sichuan

CLC Number:

P641

LI Na, ZHOU Xun, GUO Juan, TA Mingming, XU Yanqiu. Characteristics and Formation of Salty Springs in Yanyuan County of Sichuan[J]. Geoscience, 2020, 34(01): 177-188.

Figures/Tables 12

Fig.1 Location map of springs in the study area(a), geological map near the Yanjing town (b) and geological map in the Yantang town (c)

Table 1 Field measured data of the water samples in the study area

泉名	编号	泉水高程/m	日期	天气	气温/℃	流量/(L/s)	味道
小盐井泉	S1	2 406	2017—08—03	晴	26.1	很小	微咸
盐水湾泉	S2	2 384	2017—08—03	晴	24.1	很小	微咸
中河村泉	S3	2 430	2017—08—03	晴	26.6	<0.01	微咸
盐井镇卤水	S4	2 539	2017—08—03	晴	39.6	―	很咸
白乌镇泉	S5	2 445	2017—08—04	小雨转多云	19.9	很小	微咸
黑盐塘盐泉	S6	2 290	2017—08—04	小雨转多云	26.2	约0.5	咸
黑盐塘小泉	S7	2 180	2017—08—04	小雨转多云	26.6	约0.05	微咸

Fig.2 The field form of Heiyantang salty spring (S6)

Table 2 Hydrochemical analyses of the spring samples in the study area (ρB/(mg/L) )

水样编号	采样年份	高程/m	水温/℃	K⁺	Na⁺	Ca²⁺	Mg²⁺	Cl^-	S $O 4 2 -$	HC $O 3 -$	Br^-	F^-
S1	2017	2 406	18.9	4.05	374	35.5	12.3	650	10.10	76.9	0.30	0.11
S2	2017	2 384	20.4	0.59	62	17.3	4.94	97	7.01	59.6	0.23	<0.02
S3	2017	2 430	21.8	1.28	28.50	41.2	12.3	11.4	27.90	206	0.18	0.22
S4	2017	2 539	21.8	476	119 006	2 145	477	184 158	5 405	24.5	0.44	<0.02
S5	2017	2 445	20.5	0.42	8.68	55.2	6.36	8.67	4.34	201	0.24	0.05
S6	2017	2 290	14.1	88.60	20 026	757	157	32 584	1 838	324	2.12	<0.02
S7	2017	2 180	17.3	1.17	6.43	94.7	28.6	2.97	91.00	328	0.38	0.55
W02	1971	―	―	―	21 940	800	260	34 120	2 310	300	―	―
BJ	1960	―	11	―	21 470	1 550	80	33 420	2 840	250	―	―
水样编号	H₂SiO₃	N $O 3 -$	Li⁺	Sr²⁺	Ba²⁺	Fe	B	游离CO₂	TDS	总硬度	总碱度
S1	55.1	6.77	0.04	1.00	0.12	0.07	0.20	17.56	1 169	140	63.03
S2	43.9	11.30	0	0.14	0.01	<0.002	0.05	1.01	260	63.83	48.85
S3	28.6	3.36	<0.000 002	0.30	0.05	0.04	0.10	―	332	154.25	168.85
S4	22.2	<0.08	1.06	12.24	0.12	0.46	1.77	―	311 690	7 350	20.08
S5	19.0	0.43	0.01	0.08	0.01	0.13	0.07	―	286	164.5	164.75
S6	59.9	<0.08	0.10	10.36	0.04	0.53	0.07	16.98	55 774	2 546.67	265.57
S7	56.7	4.89	0.01	0.66	0.06	0.18	0.04	11.57	558	355.92	268.85
W02	―	―	―	―	―	―	―	―	89 430	4 675	262.3
BJ	―	―	―	―	―	―	―	―	58 020	3 083.33	245.9
水样编号	pH	Eh/ mV	δ¹⁸O/ ‰	δ²H/ ‰	c(Na)/ c(Cl)	K×10³/ Cl	Br×10³/ Cl	c(Cl)/ c(Br)	c(Mg)/ c(Cl)	K×10³/ ΣM	水化学类型
S1	6.7	225	-13.1	-99.9	0.888	6.231	0.462	4 876.53	0.056	3.464	Cl-Na
S2	7.8	312	-13.4	-110.2	0.987	6.103	2.371	949.21	0.151	2.277	Cl·HCO₃-Na
S3	8.2	222	-13.5	-107.2	3.859	112.281	15.789	142.54	3.192	3.855	HCO₃-Ca·Na
S4	7.2	-33	-10.1	-90.2	0.997	2.585	0.002	942 011.79	0.008	1.527	Cl-Na
S5	8.0	276	-12.3	-93.8	1.545	48.328	27.682	81.31	2.170	1.465	HCO₃-Ca
S6	7.0	-32	-13.7	-108.3	0.949	2.719	0.065	34 592.90	0.014	1.589	Cl-Na
S7	7.7	182	-12.2	-98.6	3.342	393.939	127.946	17.59	28.488	2.097	HCO₃·SO₄-Ca·Mg
W02	5.2	―	―	―	0.913	―	―	―	0.023	―	Cl-Na
BJ	7.8	―	―	―	0.912	―	―	―	0.007	―	Cl-Na

Table 2 Hydrochemical analyses of the spring samples in the study area (ρB/(mg/L) )

水样编号	采样年份	高程/m	水温/℃	K⁺	Na⁺	Ca²⁺	Mg²⁺	Cl^-	S $O 4 2 -$	HC $O 3 -$	Br^-	F^-
S1	2017	2 406	18.9	4.05	374	35.5	12.3	650	10.10	76.9	0.30	0.11
S2	2017	2 384	20.4	0.59	62	17.3	4.94	97	7.01	59.6	0.23	<0.02
S3	2017	2 430	21.8	1.28	28.50	41.2	12.3	11.4	27.90	206	0.18	0.22
S4	2017	2 539	21.8	476	119 006	2 145	477	184 158	5 405	24.5	0.44	<0.02
S5	2017	2 445	20.5	0.42	8.68	55.2	6.36	8.67	4.34	201	0.24	0.05
S6	2017	2 290	14.1	88.60	20 026	757	157	32 584	1 838	324	2.12	<0.02
S7	2017	2 180	17.3	1.17	6.43	94.7	28.6	2.97	91.00	328	0.38	0.55
W02	1971	―	―	―	21 940	800	260	34 120	2 310	300	―	―
BJ	1960	―	11	―	21 470	1 550	80	33 420	2 840	250	―	―
水样编号	H₂SiO₃	N $O 3 -$	Li⁺	Sr²⁺	Ba²⁺	Fe	B	游离CO₂	TDS	总硬度	总碱度
S1	55.1	6.77	0.04	1.00	0.12	0.07	0.20	17.56	1 169	140	63.03
S2	43.9	11.30	0	0.14	0.01	<0.002	0.05	1.01	260	63.83	48.85
S3	28.6	3.36	<0.000 002	0.30	0.05	0.04	0.10	―	332	154.25	168.85
S4	22.2	<0.08	1.06	12.24	0.12	0.46	1.77	―	311 690	7 350	20.08
S5	19.0	0.43	0.01	0.08	0.01	0.13	0.07	―	286	164.5	164.75
S6	59.9	<0.08	0.10	10.36	0.04	0.53	0.07	16.98	55 774	2 546.67	265.57
S7	56.7	4.89	0.01	0.66	0.06	0.18	0.04	11.57	558	355.92	268.85
W02	―	―	―	―	―	―	―	―	89 430	4 675	262.3
BJ	―	―	―	―	―	―	―	―	58 020	3 083.33	245.9
水样编号	pH	Eh/ mV	δ¹⁸O/ ‰	δ²H/ ‰	c(Na)/ c(Cl)	K×10³/ Cl	Br×10³/ Cl	c(Cl)/ c(Br)	c(Mg)/ c(Cl)	K×10³/ ΣM	水化学类型
S1	6.7	225	-13.1	-99.9	0.888	6.231	0.462	4 876.53	0.056	3.464	Cl-Na
S2	7.8	312	-13.4	-110.2	0.987	6.103	2.371	949.21	0.151	2.277	Cl·HCO₃-Na
S3	8.2	222	-13.5	-107.2	3.859	112.281	15.789	142.54	3.192	3.855	HCO₃-Ca·Na
S4	7.2	-33	-10.1	-90.2	0.997	2.585	0.002	942 011.79	0.008	1.527	Cl-Na
S5	8.0	276	-12.3	-93.8	1.545	48.328	27.682	81.31	2.170	1.465	HCO₃-Ca
S6	7.0	-32	-13.7	-108.3	0.949	2.719	0.065	34 592.90	0.014	1.589	Cl-Na
S7	7.7	182	-12.2	-98.6	3.342	393.939	127.946	17.59	28.488	2.097	HCO₃·SO₄-Ca·Mg
W02	5.2	―	―	―	0.913	―	―	―	0.023	―	Cl-Na
BJ	7.8	―	―	―	0.912	―	―	―	0.007	―	Cl-Na

Fig.3 Percentage of the milligram equivalent of the major ions in the water samples in the study area

Fig.4 Piper diagram showing the water samples in the study area

Fig.5 Modified Schoeller diagram of the water samples in the study area

Fig.6 Relationships between the major ions in the springs

Table 3 Calculated saturation indexs (SI) for the main minerals in the spring samples

水样	硬石膏	文石	重晶石	方解石	天青石	白云石	石膏	石盐	菱铁矿	菱锶矿
S1	-3.348 1	-1.643 1	-0.510 0	-1.494 9	-2.822 4	-3.178 6	-2.978 8	-5.211 4	-2.002 3	-2.561 2
S2	-3.561 6	-0.808 3	-1.814 7	-0.661 2	-3.583 7	-1.577 2	-3.208 3	-6.761 7	-3.731 6	-2.275 5
S3	-2.649 0	0.474 6	-0.346 1	0.620 7	-2.724 0	1.027 2	-2.311 0	-8.038 1	-2.753 3	-1.046 1
S4	0.076 9	0.122 5	0.786 8	0.268 6	-0.403 2	0.519 4	0.155 2	0.325 5	-2.337 2	-1.803 3
S5	-3.319 2	0.397 2	-1.786 1	0.544 2	-4.071 0	0.443 4	-2.967 0	-8.667 9	-1.781 2	-1.799 7
S6	-0.934 6	-0.029 5	0.124 0	0.122 4	-0.720 4	-0.174 3	-0.540 5	-1.956 7	-0.965 3	-1.251 5
S7	-1.950 9	0.410 6	0.172 2	0.560 0	-2.023 7	0.843 3	-1.563 6	-9.287 3	-0.736 2	-1.104 0

Fig.7 Saturation indexs of the main minerals in the water samples in the study area

Fig.8 Plot of δ2H-δ18O of the water samples in the study area

Fig.9 Schematic profiles showing the formation of springs of S2, S4, S6 and S7.

References 29

[1]	周训, 金晓媚, 梁四海, 等. 地下水科学专论[M]. 2版.北京: 地质出版社, 2017: 92-96.
[2]	牛新生, 刘喜方, 陈文西. 西藏北羌塘盆地多格错仁地区盐泉水化学特征及其物质来源[J]. 地质学报, 2014,88(6):1003-1010.
[3]	秦西伟, 马海州, 张西营, 等. 昌都地区盐泉水化学特征与找钾研究[J]. 盐湖研究, 2017,25(2):28-39.
[4]	伯英, 刘成林, 焦鹏程, 等. 塔里木盆地西南部和北部盐泉水化学特征及找钾指标探讨[J]. 地球学报, 2013,34(5):594-602.
[5]	伯英, 刘成林, 赵艳军, 等. 兰坪—思茅盆地水化学特征及找钾指标探讨[J]. 矿床地质, 2014,33(5):1031-1044.
[6]	WELLS C M, PRICE J S. A hydrologic assessment of a saline spring fen in the Athabasca oil sands region, Alberta, Canada—a potential analogue for oil sands reclamation[J]. Hydrological Processes, 2015,29(20):4533-4548.
[7]	SCHELKES K, VOGEL P, KLINGE H. Density-dependent groundwater movement in sediments overlying salt domes—the Gorleben site example[J]. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Part B: Hydrology Oceans and Atmosphere, 2001,26(4):361-365.
[8]	ESEME E, AGYINGI C M, FOBA-TENDO J. Geochemistry and genesis of brine emanations from Cretaceous strata of the Mamfe Basin, Cameroon[J]. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 2002,35(4):467-476.
[9]	KNAUTH L P. Origin and mixing history of brines, Palo Duro Basin, Texas, U.S.A.[J]. Applied Geochemistry, 1988,3(5):455-474.
[10]	DONOVAN J J, ROSE A W. Geochemical evolution of lacustrine brines from variable-scale groundwater circulation[J]. Journal of Hydrology, 1994,154(1/4):35-62.
[11]	VENGOSH A, CHIVAS A R, STARINSKY A, et al. Chemical and boron isotope compositions of non-marine brines from the Qaidam Basin, Qinghai, China[J]. Chemical Geology, 1995,120(1/2):135-154.
[12]	LIU W G, XIAO Y K, PENG Z C, et al. Boron concentration and isotopic composition of halite from experiments and salt lakes in the Qaidam Basin[J]. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2000,64(13):2177-2183.
[13]	LIU W G, XIAO Y K, WANG Q Z, et al. Chlorine isotopic geochemistry of salt lakes in the Qaidam Basin, China[J]. Chemical Geology, 1997,136(3/4):271-279.
[14]	LÜDERS V, PLESSEN B, ROMER R L, et al. Chemistry and isotopic composition of Rotliegend and Upper Carboniferous formation waters from the North German Basin[J]. Chemical Geology, 2010,276(3/4):198-208.
[15]	周训, 曹琴, 李双鹏, 等. 重庆巫溪县宁厂盐泉的形成[J]. 第四纪研究, 2014,34(5):1036-1043.
[16]	牛新生, 陈文西, 刘喜方. 羌塘盆地多格错仁地区盐泉地球化学特征及成钾预测[J]. 现代地质, 2013,27(3):621-628.
[17]	ZHOU X, JIANG C, ZHAO J, et al. Occurrence and resource evaluation of the subsurface high-K brines in the Pingluoba brine-bearing structure in western Sichuan Basin[J]. Environmental Earth Sciences, 2015,73(12):8565-8574.
[18]	韩凤清, 陈彦交, 韩继龙, 等. 青海囊谦高浓度盐泉硼同位素地球化学特征及其地质意义研究[J]. 地球学报, 2016,37(6):723-732.
[19]	李金锁, 郑绵平, 蒋忠惕, 等. 四川盐源盐泉水水化学特征分析[J]. 地质学报, 2014,88(9):1762-1770.
[20]	中国地质科学院地质力学研究所. 地质力学文集(第八集)[M]. 北京: 地质出版社, 1988: 82-87.
[21]	四川省地质矿产研究所专题研究组. 盐源—丽江地区三叠系地层及沉积相[M]. 北京: 地质出版社, 1987: 107-116.
[22]	四川成都文物考古研究所, 四川凉山州博物馆. 四川盐源县古代盐业与文化的考古调查[J]. 南方文物, 2011(1):120-128.
[23]	周训, 胡伏生, 何江涛, 等. 地下水科学概论[M]. 2版.北京: 地质出版社, 2014: 77-79.
[24]	GUO J, ZHOU X, WANG L, et al. Hydrogeochemical characte-ristics and sources of salinity of the springs near Wenquanzhen in the eastern Sichuan Basin, China[J]. Hydrogeology Journal, 2018,26(1):1137-1151.
[25]	KLOPPMANN W, NEGREL P, CASANOVA J, et al. Halite dissolution derived brines in the vicinity of a Permian salt dome (North German Basin) evidence from boron, strontium, oxygen, and hydrogen isotopes[J]. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 2001,65(22):4087-4101.
[26]	FARID I, ZOUARI K, RIGANE A, et al. Origin of the ground-water salinity and geochemical processes in detrital and carbonate aquifers: Case of Chougafiya basin (Central Tunisia)[J]. Journal of Hydrology, 2015,530:508-532.
[27]	曲一华, 袁品泉, 帅开业, 等. 兰坪—思茅盆地钾盐成矿规律及预测[M]. 北京: 地质出版社, 1998: 6-110.
[28]	王东升. 富钾卤水的找钾指示意义──试论卤钾标志的一般性标准[J]. 物探与化探, 1985,9(6):452-456.
[29]	张人权, 梁杏, 靳孟贵, 等. 水文地质学基础[M]. 6版.北京: 地质出版社, 2011: 52-54.