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Groundwater flow systems and the origin of evaporite deposits. Pamphlet 141 Item Info

Study of the literature on evaporite mineral deposits suggests a functional realtionship between the origin of these deposits and ground-water flow systems. The theory on which the analysis of ground-water flow systems is based is reviewed in order to establish flow systems as a mechanism by which dissolved solids can be transported to sites of evaporite mineral accumulation. Comparison of observed spatial variations of ground-water quality with pertinent solutions to flow equations under specified boundary conditions reveals that quality of ground water is a function of flow path length, flow path route and flow velocity. Selected references provide evidence that sites of accumulation of non-marine evaporite minerals are discharge zones for poor quality water from regional ground-water flow systems. A study of isotope ratios in oil field brines and standard mean ocean water indicates that water in some deep brines is of local meteoric origin; therefore, the brines are part of a ground-water flow system. Observed distribution of fluid potential in the saline portion of some ground-water flow systems on the Atlantic Coast of the United States reveals that saline ground water discharges toward the ocean floor. Therefore, ground water may also act as a transport medium for dissolved solids which are precipitated, under appropriate conditions, as marine evaporite deposits.

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Title:
Groundwater flow systems and the origin of evaporite deposits. Pamphlet 141
Authors:
Williams, Roy E.
Date Created (ISO Standard):
1968-08
Description:
Study of the literature on evaporite mineral deposits suggests a functional realtionship between the origin of these deposits and ground-water flow systems. The theory on which the analysis of ground-water flow systems is based is reviewed in order to establish flow systems as a mechanism by which dissolved solids can be transported to sites of evaporite mineral accumulation. Comparison of observed spatial variations of ground-water quality with pertinent solutions to flow equations under specified boundary conditions reveals that quality of ground water is a function of flow path length, flow path route and flow velocity. Selected references provide evidence that sites of accumulation of non-marine evaporite minerals are discharge zones for poor quality water from regional ground-water flow systems. A study of isotope ratios in oil field brines and standard mean ocean water indicates that water in some deep brines is of local meteoric origin; therefore, the brines are part of a ground-water flow system. Observed distribution of fluid potential in the saline portion of some ground-water flow systems on the Atlantic Coast of the United States reveals that saline ground water discharges toward the ocean floor. Therefore, ground water may also act as a transport medium for dissolved solids which are precipitated, under appropriate conditions, as marine evaporite deposits.
Subjects:
groundwater flow
Collection:
Boise Basin
IWRRI number:
197023
Rights:
Rights to the digital resource are held by the University of Idaho. http://www.uidaho.edu/
Publisher:
Idaho Bureau of Mines and Geology
Contributing Institution:
University of Idaho
Type:
Text
Format:
application/pdf
Cataloger:
wbv
Date Digitized:
2012

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Preferred Citation:
"Groundwater flow systems and the origin of evaporite deposits. Pamphlet 141", Idaho Waters Digital Library, University of Idaho Library Digital Collections, https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/iwdl/items/iwdl-197023.html
Rights
Rights:
Rights to the digital resource are held by the University of Idaho. http://www.uidaho.edu/
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