The hydrogeochemical evolution of groundwater in the middle reaches of the Heihe River Basin

doi:10.13745/j.esf.sf.2021.5.28

Abstract

Abstract:

The Heihe River is the second largest inland river in China. Studies on the hydrochemical evolution of the Heihe River Basin play an important role in utilizing and managing regional water resources as well as ensuring downstream ecological security and safety of drinking water. In this study, the hydrochemical and isotopic variation patterns of two typical profiles of the Heihe and Fengle River mainstreams were studied using data from a 1∶50000 hydrogeological survey conducted in the Heihe River Basin from 2014 to 2018. The study suggests that groundwater in the middle reaches of the Heihe River Basin mainly recharged via precipitation from the Qilian Mountain. Deuterium and oxygen-18 isotope were more enriched in the groundwater of the Heihe River than in the Fengle River mainstream, demonstrating the altitude effect for stable isotopes. Ancient water, different from modern water, was found in the Fengle River Basin drainage area, indicating the current salt lake basin was the groundwater retention area during its early stage. After an extended leaching period, groundwater TDS in the Gobi belt was low, and the hydrochemical type was mainly the bicarbonate type; downstream, TDS increased gradually and the sulfuric acid and sulfuric acid-chlorine types became dominant. Chemical evolution of groundwater in this area followed two distinctive patterns: one is gypsum dissolution-carbonate precipitation-chloride dissolution incomplete silicate dissolution followed by cation exchange, the other is sodium sulfate dissolution after the first. The primary reason for the TDS increase in the recharge/runoff area is leaching, the same reason for the TDS increase in the Fengle River discharge area, where the main source mineral, salt, primarily originated from the surface. In the discharge area of the Heihe River mainstream, owing to the thin aquifer and shallow groundwater, evaporation had a greater influence on groundwater salinization.

Key words: Heihe River, groundwater, hydrochemistry, deuterium and oxygen isotope, dissolve

CLC Number:

WANG Wenxiang, LI Wenpeng, CAI Yuemei, AN Yonghui, SHAO Xinmin, WU Xi, YIN Dechao. The hydrogeochemical evolution of groundwater in the middle reaches of the Heihe River Basin[J]. Earth Science Frontiers, 2021, 28(4): 184-193.

Figures/Tables 12

Fig.1 Distribution of sampling points and hydrochemical map of the study area

Fig.2 Geological profile of the study area. Adapted from [2].

Fig.3 δD-δ18O plot for groundwater samples

Table 1 Hydrochemical and isotopic data for groundwater samples

样品编号	采样深度/m	ρ_B/(mg·L^-1)								δ¹⁸O/‰	δD/‰	水化学类型	分组
样品编号	采样深度/m	Ca²⁺	Mg²⁺	Na⁺	K⁺	$HCO 3 -$	Cl^-	$SO 4 2 -$	TDS	δ¹⁸O/‰	δD/‰	水化学类型	分组
HG14	260	52.5	23.6	15.3	2.5	181.8	29.8	68.7	374.2	-8.9	-57.0	$HCO 3 -$ · $SO 4 2 -$ -Ca²⁺·Mg²⁺	黑-1
ST165	280	36.1	19.4	13.6	2.2	170.8	5.0	50.0	224.8	—	—	$HCO 3 -$ · $SO 4 2 -$ -Ca²⁺·Mg²⁺	黑-1
HG13	260	50.9	22.6	30.2	2.2	196.5	27.6	85.5	415.5	-9.2	-58.0	$HCO 3 -$ -Ca²⁺·Mg²⁺	黑-1
HQ10	112	68.1	24.3	18.4	2.2	173.3	9.2	142.2	362.2	-9.2	-59.4	$SO 4 2 -$ · $HCO 3 -$ -Ca²⁺·Mg²⁺	黑-1
SF012	60	57.7	25.8	18.0	2.3	207.5	9.2	98.0	337.5	-8.0	-47.4	$HCO 3 -$ · $SO 4 2 -$ -Ca²⁺·Mg²⁺	黑-2
SF060	120	48.1	70.5	25.9	3.3	341.7	24.8	144.1	516.8	-8.0	-48.9	$HCO 3 -$ · $SO 4 2 -$ -Mg²⁺·Ca²⁺	黑-2
SS012	100	60.1	54.7	36.8	3.5	268.5	28.4	168.1	538.5	-8.1	-49.0	$HCO 3 -$ · $SO 4 2 -$ -Mg²⁺·Ca²⁺	黑-2
SS064	80	60.1	43.8	35.9	3.1	323.4	39.0	96.1	458.3	-8.2	-50.5	$HCO 3 -$ -Mg²⁺·Ca²⁺	黑-2
SS159	80	67.3	85.6	91.0	4.9	390.5	60.3	278.6	823.0	—	—	$HCO 3 -$ · $SO 4 2 -$ -Mg²⁺·Na⁺	黑-2
ST124	36	56.9	73.4	95.0	18.5	268.5	65.9	296.8	794.3	—	—	$SO 4 2 -$ · $HCO 3 -$ -Mg²⁺·Na⁺	黑-2
SS463	36	68.1	132.7	221.3	31.8	263.6	145.4	745.5	1 523.0	-8.1	-51.2	$SO 4 2 -$ -Na⁺·Mg²⁺	黑-2
SF381	16	93.8	135.1	408.0	14.1	454.0	128.3	1052.0	2 105.0	—	—	$SO 4 2 -$ -Na⁺·Mg²⁺	黑-3
SF358	10	93.0	108.4	372.0	5.7	427.1	166.6	879.5	1 864.0	—	—	$SO 4 2 -$ -Na⁺	黑-3
SS390	13	79.4	130.3	352.0	7.6	563.8	125.5	887.6	1 880.0	—	—	$SO 4 2 -$ -Na⁺·Mg²⁺	黑-3
HHQ025	18	110.6	107.9	254.4	6.2	580.9	159.5	581.2	1 526.0	-7.9	-49.1	$SO 4 2 -$ · $HCO 3 -$ -Na⁺·Mg²⁺	黑-3
HHQ085	15	137.9	155.1	718.9	11.8	544.3	455.9	1441.0	3 209.0	-7.0	-47.2	$SO 4 2 -$ -Na⁺	黑-3
HHQ032	20	135.5	221.2	374.6	31.4	619.9	504.1	925.1	2 560.0	-7.2	-45.5	$SO 4 2 -$ ·Cl^--Mg²⁺·Na⁺	黑-3
HHQ124	20	104.2	106.9	167.0	20.6	507.7	126.9	450.5	1 267.0	—	—	$SO 4 2 -$ ·Cl^--Mg²⁺·Na⁺	黑-3
HA006	290	44.5	54.2	24.2	4.5	240.4	36.2	126.8	439.5	-9.2	-57.5	$HCO 3 -$ · $SO 4 2 -$ -Mg²⁺·Ca²⁺	丰-1
HA044	130	26.7	33.0	22.4	6.1	187.9	7.8	76.4	283.9	-9.7	-60.6	$HCO 3 -$ · $SO 4 2 -$ -Mg²⁺	丰-1
HA068	120	27.3	28.7	18.3	3.3	135.5	20.6	74.9	273.2	-10.0	-62.8	$HCO 3 -$ · $SO 4 2 -$ -Mg²⁺·Ca²⁺	丰-1
HC011	128	51.7	70.3	36.1	9.2	205.0	67.4	257.5	628.2	-9.7	-59.3	$SO 4 2 -$ · $HCO 3 -$ -Mg²⁺·Ca²⁺	丰-1
HC013	120	24.3	51.4	24.9	8.3	146.4	41.8	141.2	384.9	-9.8	-61.2	$SO 4 2 -$ · $HCO 3 -$ -Mg²⁺	丰-1
HA035	100	35.5	52.3	30.0	9.1	157.4	56.7	143.6	420.4	-10.1	-63.2	$SO 4 2 -$ · $HCO 3 -$ -Mg²⁺	丰-1
SF775	100	47.4	54.2	190.4	14.5	112.3	135.4	406.8	927.0	-10.9	-72.3	$SO 4 2 -$ ·Cl^--Na⁺·Mg²⁺	丰-2
SF776	50	523.0	248.0	2 745.0	42.0	148.9	4 889.0	1 656.0	10 267.0	-10.5	-75.6	Cl^--Na⁺	丰-2

Table 1 Hydrochemical and isotopic data for groundwater samples

样品编号	采样深度/m	ρ_B/(mg·L^-1)								δ¹⁸O/‰	δD/‰	水化学类型	分组
样品编号	采样深度/m	Ca²⁺	Mg²⁺	Na⁺	K⁺	$HCO 3 -$	Cl^-	$SO 4 2 -$	TDS	δ¹⁸O/‰	δD/‰	水化学类型	分组
HG14	260	52.5	23.6	15.3	2.5	181.8	29.8	68.7	374.2	-8.9	-57.0	$HCO 3 -$ · $SO 4 2 -$ -Ca²⁺·Mg²⁺	黑-1
ST165	280	36.1	19.4	13.6	2.2	170.8	5.0	50.0	224.8	—	—	$HCO 3 -$ · $SO 4 2 -$ -Ca²⁺·Mg²⁺	黑-1
HG13	260	50.9	22.6	30.2	2.2	196.5	27.6	85.5	415.5	-9.2	-58.0	$HCO 3 -$ -Ca²⁺·Mg²⁺	黑-1
HQ10	112	68.1	24.3	18.4	2.2	173.3	9.2	142.2	362.2	-9.2	-59.4	$SO 4 2 -$ · $HCO 3 -$ -Ca²⁺·Mg²⁺	黑-1
SF012	60	57.7	25.8	18.0	2.3	207.5	9.2	98.0	337.5	-8.0	-47.4	$HCO 3 -$ · $SO 4 2 -$ -Ca²⁺·Mg²⁺	黑-2
SF060	120	48.1	70.5	25.9	3.3	341.7	24.8	144.1	516.8	-8.0	-48.9	$HCO 3 -$ · $SO 4 2 -$ -Mg²⁺·Ca²⁺	黑-2
SS012	100	60.1	54.7	36.8	3.5	268.5	28.4	168.1	538.5	-8.1	-49.0	$HCO 3 -$ · $SO 4 2 -$ -Mg²⁺·Ca²⁺	黑-2
SS064	80	60.1	43.8	35.9	3.1	323.4	39.0	96.1	458.3	-8.2	-50.5	$HCO 3 -$ -Mg²⁺·Ca²⁺	黑-2
SS159	80	67.3	85.6	91.0	4.9	390.5	60.3	278.6	823.0	—	—	$HCO 3 -$ · $SO 4 2 -$ -Mg²⁺·Na⁺	黑-2
ST124	36	56.9	73.4	95.0	18.5	268.5	65.9	296.8	794.3	—	—	$SO 4 2 -$ · $HCO 3 -$ -Mg²⁺·Na⁺	黑-2
SS463	36	68.1	132.7	221.3	31.8	263.6	145.4	745.5	1 523.0	-8.1	-51.2	$SO 4 2 -$ -Na⁺·Mg²⁺	黑-2
SF381	16	93.8	135.1	408.0	14.1	454.0	128.3	1052.0	2 105.0	—	—	$SO 4 2 -$ -Na⁺·Mg²⁺	黑-3
SF358	10	93.0	108.4	372.0	5.7	427.1	166.6	879.5	1 864.0	—	—	$SO 4 2 -$ -Na⁺	黑-3
SS390	13	79.4	130.3	352.0	7.6	563.8	125.5	887.6	1 880.0	—	—	$SO 4 2 -$ -Na⁺·Mg²⁺	黑-3
HHQ025	18	110.6	107.9	254.4	6.2	580.9	159.5	581.2	1 526.0	-7.9	-49.1	$SO 4 2 -$ · $HCO 3 -$ -Na⁺·Mg²⁺	黑-3
HHQ085	15	137.9	155.1	718.9	11.8	544.3	455.9	1441.0	3 209.0	-7.0	-47.2	$SO 4 2 -$ -Na⁺	黑-3
HHQ032	20	135.5	221.2	374.6	31.4	619.9	504.1	925.1	2 560.0	-7.2	-45.5	$SO 4 2 -$ ·Cl^--Mg²⁺·Na⁺	黑-3
HHQ124	20	104.2	106.9	167.0	20.6	507.7	126.9	450.5	1 267.0	—	—	$SO 4 2 -$ ·Cl^--Mg²⁺·Na⁺	黑-3
HA006	290	44.5	54.2	24.2	4.5	240.4	36.2	126.8	439.5	-9.2	-57.5	$HCO 3 -$ · $SO 4 2 -$ -Mg²⁺·Ca²⁺	丰-1
HA044	130	26.7	33.0	22.4	6.1	187.9	7.8	76.4	283.9	-9.7	-60.6	$HCO 3 -$ · $SO 4 2 -$ -Mg²⁺	丰-1
HA068	120	27.3	28.7	18.3	3.3	135.5	20.6	74.9	273.2	-10.0	-62.8	$HCO 3 -$ · $SO 4 2 -$ -Mg²⁺·Ca²⁺	丰-1
HC011	128	51.7	70.3	36.1	9.2	205.0	67.4	257.5	628.2	-9.7	-59.3	$SO 4 2 -$ · $HCO 3 -$ -Mg²⁺·Ca²⁺	丰-1
HC013	120	24.3	51.4	24.9	8.3	146.4	41.8	141.2	384.9	-9.8	-61.2	$SO 4 2 -$ · $HCO 3 -$ -Mg²⁺	丰-1
HA035	100	35.5	52.3	30.0	9.1	157.4	56.7	143.6	420.4	-10.1	-63.2	$SO 4 2 -$ · $HCO 3 -$ -Mg²⁺	丰-1
SF775	100	47.4	54.2	190.4	14.5	112.3	135.4	406.8	927.0	-10.9	-72.3	$SO 4 2 -$ ·Cl^--Na⁺·Mg²⁺	丰-2
SF776	50	523.0	248.0	2 745.0	42.0	148.9	4 889.0	1 656.0	10 267.0	-10.5	-75.6	Cl^--Na⁺	丰-2

Fig.4 Piper diagram of groundwater samples from the study area

Table 2 Results of calcite, gypsum and quartz saturation index calculations for groundwater samples

剖面名称	样品编号	矿物饱和度值的常用对数
剖面名称	样品编号	CaCO₃	CaSO₄·2H₂O	SiO₂	CaMg(CO₃)₂
黑河干流	HG14	0.69	-1.89	0.15	1.38
	ST165	0.66	-2.14	0.20	1.40
	HG13	0.71	-1.82	0.36	1.41
	HQ10	0.79	-1.51	-0.01	1.48
	SF012	0.63	-1.72	0.33	1.27
	SF060	0.46	-1.74	0.23	1.44
	SS012	0.50	-1.56	0.19	1.31
	SS064	0.75	-1.77	0.22	1.72
	SS159	0.87	-1.40	0.29	2.19
	ST124	0.72	-1.42	0.26	1.90
	SS463	0.21	-1.12	0.21	1.05
	SF381	1.06	-0.92	0.28	2.62
	SF358	1.00	-0.95	0.33	2.41
	SS390	1.02	-1.03	0.25	2.59
	HHQ025	0.56	-1.01	0.29	1.46
	HHQ085	0.67	-0.72	0.28	1.73
	HHQ032	0.68	-0.87	0.22	1.92
	HHQ124	0.49	-1.10	0.35	1.33
丰乐河	HA006	0.58	-1.78	0.04	1.60
	HA044	0.35	-2.13	0.08	1.18
	HA068	0.71	-2.12	0.09	1.80
	HC011	0.36	-1.48	0.16	1.20
	HC013	0.00	-1.96	0.20	0.66
	HA035	0.41	-1.81	0.21	1.34
	SF775	0.65	-1.37	0.08	1.71
	SF776	0.22	-0.31	0.22	0.42

Fig.5 Relationship between Ca2+, Mg2+or (Ca2++ Mg2+) and SO 4 2 - in groundwater of Heihe River mainstream

Fig.6 Relationship between Ca2+, Mg2+or (Ca2+ + Mg2+) and SO 4 2 - in groundwater of Fengle River

Fig.7 Relationship between (Na++K+) and Cl- in groundwater of Heihe River mainstream

Fig.8 Relationship between (Na++K+) and Cl- in groundwater of Fengle River

Fig.9 TDS-δ18O plot for groundwater samples from the study area

Table 3 Contributions from leaching and evaporation to groundwater salinization in the Heihe River discharge area

样品编号	TDS质量浓度/ (g·L^-1)	溶滤作用			蒸发作用
样品编号	TDS质量浓度/ (g·L^-1)	地下水咸化增量/ (mg·L^-1)	贡献比例		地下水咸化增量/ (mg·L^-1)	贡献比例
HHQ025	1.526	0.860		72.4%	0.328	27.6%
HHQ032	2.560	0.498		22.4%	1.724	77.6%
HHQ085	3.209	0.860		30.0%	2.011	70.0%
SF776	10.367	8.564		90.7%	0.876	9.3%

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