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Environmental Isotope Investigation of Groundwater in the Sarcheshmeh Copper Mine Area, Iran

Investigación isotópica ambiental del agua subterránea en el área de la mina de cobre Sarcheshmeh, Irán

伊朗Sarcheshmeh铜矿区地下水之环境同位素研究

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Abstract

Precipitation, surface, and groundwater samples were collected during 2009–2010 in the Sarcheshmeh copper mine drainage basin, Kerman Province, Iran. Groundwater samples were collected from both shallow and deep aquifers. All of the samples were analyzed for stable isotopes, deuterium (2H), and oxygen-18 (18O), and some were analyzed for tritium (3H). The results show a more restricted range of isotopic composition in groundwater samples than in precipitation samples based on the isotopic composition of the precipitation. The isotopic composition of surface and groundwater samples plot to the right of the local meteoric water line of the Sarcheshmeh area and around the evaporation line, indicating that the groundwater within the study area originates from meteoric water that has undergone secondary evaporation before or during recharge. Tritium was below the detection limit in the deep groundwater samples while shallow groundwater samples had tritium concentrations between 1.2 and 1.7 TU, which indicates a longer residence time for deep groundwater.

Resumen

Se colectaron muestras de aguas subterráneas de superficie y de precipitación durante 2009–2010 en la cuenca de drenaje de la mina de cobre Sarcheshmeh, Provincia de Kermán, Irán. Se recolectaron muestras de aguas subterráneas desde acuíferos profundos y superficiales. En todas las muestras se analizaron isótopos estables, deuterio (2H) y oxígeno18 (18O) y en algunas se analizó tritio (3H). Los resultados muestran una composición isotópica en las muestras subterráneas en un rango más restringido que en las muestras de precipitación basadas en la composición isotópica de esta última. La composición isotópica de las muestras de agua subterráneas y de superficie caen a la derecha de la línea de agua meteórica local (LMWL) del área de Sarcheshmeh y alrededor de la línea de evaporación indicando que el agua subterránea dentro del área de estudio se origina desde agua meteórica que sufre una evaporación secundaria antes o durante la recarga. El tritio estuvo por debajo del límite de detección en las muestras de agua subterránea profunda mientras que las muestras de agua subterránea superficial tenían concentraciones de tritio entre 1,2 y 1,7 TU, lo que indica un largo tiempo de residencia para el agua subterránea profunda.

抽象

于2009–2010年间,在伊朗 克尔曼省(Kerman)的Sarcheshmeh铜矿区采集了大气降水、地表水和地下水水样。地下水水样分别取自浅层和深层含水层。所有水样都进行了稳定同位素氘(2H)和 18O测试,部分水样进行了氚(3H)分析。试验结果表明,地下水同位素组份范围比大气降水更窄。地表水和地下水样同位素组成分布于Sarcheshmeh地区当地降水线(LMWL)的右侧和蒸发线周围,表明研究区域内地下水来源于降水,且降水在补给地下水之前或补给过程中经受了第二次蒸发。深层地下水样的氚浓度低于检测极限,而浅层地下水样的氚浓度在1.2至1.7 TU 之间,表明深层地下水的滞留时间更长。

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the National Iranian Copper Industries Co. for funding this work. Part of this research was carried out when the second author visited the University of Waterloo, Canada. Constructive comments given by the Editor-in-Chief, the Associate Editor (Led Murray), and two anonymous reviewers are acknowledged.

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  1. Department of Earth Sciences, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, 71454, Shiraz, Iran

    Hassan Sahraei Parizi & Nozar Samani

  2. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada

    Nozar Samani

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  1. Hassan Sahraei Parizi
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  2. Nozar Samani
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Correspondence to Nozar Samani.

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Parizi, H.S., Samani, N. Environmental Isotope Investigation of Groundwater in the Sarcheshmeh Copper Mine Area, Iran. Mine Water Environ 33, 97–109 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-014-0277-5

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