Evolution of groundwater chemistry in coastal aquifers of the Northern Dvina basin (NW Russia)

Abstract

The specific objective of the study is to clarify the sources and characteristics of groundwater chemistry in coastal aquifers of the Northern Dvina basin. It has been established that the chemical composition of fresh water evolves in the direction (Ca-Mg-HCO3) - (Na-HCO3) - (Na-Cl). It is due to successive replacement of the process of calcite dissolution in the recharge area on the watershed i) by the process of hydrolysis of sodium aluminosilicates in the transit zone and ii) by the processes of mixing fresh water with salt water and brines, cation exchange of alkaline earth elements with alkaline elements and dissolution of gypsum near discharge areas at the seashore and in paleovalleys. In the brackish and salty waters the Na/Ca ratio is reduced to 1-4. This indicates that in the aquifers there are other sources of Ca, in addition to the dissolution of gypsum. The most probable process is the hydrolysis of Ca-aluminosilicates, which indicates a significant time of water-rock interaction. The “brackish1” water with TDS 5-6 g·L-1, is particularly distinguished by the degree of modification due to water-rock interaction.