Boukich O., Bouaissa M., Taupin Jean-Denis, Patris Nicolas, Gharibi E. (2025). Groundwater mineralization processes in a semi-arid region : hydrogeochemical, isotopic and statistical approaches. Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 30, p. 101494 [12 p.]. ISSN 2352-801X.
Titre du document
Groundwater mineralization processes in a semi-arid region : hydrogeochemical, isotopic and statistical approaches
Boukich O., Bouaissa M., Taupin Jean-Denis, Patris Nicolas, Gharibi E.
Source
Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 2025,
30, p. 101494 [12 p.] ISSN 2352-801X
This study was conducted to determine the main hydrogeochemical processes controlling the mineralization in the Angads groundwater in North-East Morocco. To achieve this, hydrogeochemical compositions combined with multiple stable and radioactive isotopes (O-18, H-2, H-3, and C-14) were analyzed in groundwater. Statistical analysis showed that average ion concentrations in groundwater were in the following order: Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > K+ > NH4+ for cations, and Cl- > HCO3- > SO42- > NO3- for anions. The aquifer is mainly composed of Ca-Mg-Cl type waters, which account for over 70 % of the samples. The results show that water mineralization is mainly due to the dissolution of evaporites, as well as the influence of ion exchange, and probably a part of evaporative enrichment. The H-2 vs O-18 diagram revealed that aquifer recharge is more depleted isotopically than the local rainfall, pointing to a recharge in high elevation mountains to the south/south-east of the zone, and that all points are influenced by evaporation before or during infiltration. The levels of H-3 indicate that all samples show a limited recent water component mixed with an older component dated back to 2233 BP according to C-14 measurements.
