Rare earth element content in groundwater of Tomsk water intake

Abstract

The relevance. Rare earth elements are indicators groundwater ecological status and can be used in monitoring system for water bodies. Thus, the relevance of the problem is determined by the poor knowledge of the mechanism and nature of rare earth elements behavior in underground waters of the Tomsk water intake. The main aim of the research is to determine the main regularities of changes in concentrations and distribution of rare earth elements in the wells of Tomsk water intake. Objects. The work is based on the results of hydrogeochemical testing of 18 wells of the Tomsk water intake in the 1st and 3rd stages. Methods. The concentration of rare earth elements was determined by a mass spectrometric method with inductively coupled plasma. Results. The authors have studied the distribution of rare earth elements in underground waters of the Tomsk water intake. The levels of concentration of rare earth elements in the studied waters are extremely low (mcg/l). A tendency was found to increase the total con+ centration of rare earth elements from the south to the north. A distinctive feature of the studied waters is the presence of a positive europium anomaly. This is observed in samples taken during the winter months. In addition, anomalies of cerium (Ce) and neodymium (Nd) in well no. 144 (due to an increase in ∑ LREE) were revealed. The reasons for the appearance of these anomalies are discussed.

Keywords

• underground waters
• Tomsk water intake
• rare earth elements
• geochemistry of water
• distribution regularities