Isotope–Geochemical Characteristics of Natural Waters in the Southwestern Part of the Crimean Peninsula

• Published in: Water resources 2022-08, Vol.49 (4), p.630-646
• Main Authors: Kharitonova, N. A., Filimonova, E. A., Kortunov, E. A., Samartsev, V. N., Drobyazko, E. V., Sorokoumova, Ya. V., Grechushnikova, M. G., Proshkina, A. L., Pozdnyakov, S. P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Chemical composition; Cretaceous; Earth; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Groundwater; Hydrogeology; Hydrology/Water Resources; Isotope composition; Isotopes; Lithology; Natural waters; Paleogene; Problems of Water Supply to Arid Regions; Rare earth elements; Spring water; Strata; Tectonics; Trace elements; Waste Water Technology; Water analysis; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Water sampling; Water springs; Well waters; Yttrium
• ISSN: 0097-8078; 1608-344X
• DOI: 10.1134/S0097807822040091

The results of our study show that the natural waters in the southwestern part of the Crimean Peninsula are characterized by a wide range of chemical and isotopic composition. The chemical composition of the waters, as well as the level of concentration of the salt component, are determined and controlled by a number of factors: the tectonic structure of the area and lithological composition of the water-bearing strata, as well as the intensity and duration of their dissolution. The total concentration of rare earth elements is low (up to 0.199 μg/L): the maximum concentration has been recorded for springs localized in Cretaceous–Paleogene strata, while the minimum concentration for well groundwaters. The amount of light rare earth elements is generally much greater than that of yttrium and heavy rare earth elements. The NASC-normalized trends are rather flat in the distribution of rare earth elements, which is typical for fresh groundwaters; they clearly show a positive anomaly of Eu and a negative anomaly of Ce except well waters. With respect to the δ 2 H and δ 18 O values, the underground waters of springs are close to the atmospheric waters of the region, while groundwater samples from the wells have a very light composition. It has been revealed that the spring waters have a meteoric genesis with predominantly winter recharge at altitudes of 800–1200 m.