Arid Zone Research ›› 2021, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (2): 504-512.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2021.02.22

• Water Resources and Utilization • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Chemical characteristics and genesis analysis of groundwater in northwest Yili River Valley

Ailihamu Aikelamu1,2,3(),ZHOU Jinlong1,2,3(),ZHANG Jie1,2,3,WEI Xing1,2,3,YU Dong1,2,3,CHEN Jinsong1,2,3   

  1. 1. College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, Xinjiang, China
    2. Xinjiang Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering Center, Urumqi 830052, Xinjiang, China
    3. Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Hydraulic Engineering Security and Water Disasters Prevention, Urumqi 830052, Xinjiang, China
  • Received:2020-04-13 Revised:2020-11-13 Online:2021-03-15 Published:2021-04-25
  • Contact: Jinlong ZHOU E-mail:2744192261@qq.com;zjzhoujl@163.com

Abstract:

:To analyze groundwater genesis and chemical characteristics in Yili River Valley, Xinjiang China, we used descriptive statistical analysis, trilinear chart by Piper, Gibbs diagrams, ion ratio diagrams, and saturation index methods to systematically analyze 35 groundwater samples collected from June to October 2018. Groundwater in the study area is weakly alkaline, with a high total hardness level. The chemical components in groundwater showed little variation throughout the study area; Ca2+ was the main cation, and HCO3- the main anion. The hydrochemical characteristics in the study area can be divided into five groundwater types, HCO3-Ca, HCO3·SO4-Ca, HCO3·SO4-Ca·Mg, HCO3·SO4-Ca·Na, and HCO3-Ca·Mg. Although rock lixiviation is the main contributor to groundwater chemical composition, evaporation-concentration and cation exchange also contribute to the chemical composition of groundwater in the study area. Moreover, some groundwater samples might be affected by human activities. Na+, Cl-, and SO42- in groundwater are present due to the dissolution of rock salt, gypsum, and other evaporates; the dissolution of minerals such as calcite, dolomite, and gypsum contributes to Ca2+ and Mg2+ in groundwater.

Key words: northwest area of Yili River Valley, groundwater, hydrochemical characteristics, Gibbs diagram, ion ratio diagram, Xinjiang