Arid Zone Research ›› 2024, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (12): 2056-2070.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2024.12.08

• Land and Water Resources • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Hydrochemical properties and genetic mechanisms of high-fluoride groundwater in the Irtysh River Basin Plain, Xinjiang

ZHENG Yu1,2,3(), SUN Ying1,2,3, ZHOU Jinlong1,2,3(), LI Ruyue1,2,3   

  1. 1. College of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, Xinjiang, China
    2. Xinjiang Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering Research Center, Urumqi 830052, Xinjiang, China
    3. Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Hydraulic Engineering Security and Water Disasters Prevention, Urumqi 830052, Xinjiang, China
  • Received:2024-05-26 Revised:2024-08-14 Online:2024-12-15 Published:2024-12-20
  • Contact: ZHOU Jinlong E-mail:1942564786@qq.com;zjzhoujl@163.com

Abstract:

In this study, we explored the chemical control factors influencing groundwater and the causes of high-fluoride concentrations in the Irtysh River Basin plain, Xinjiang. In 2018, 70 groundwater samples were collected to analyze the spatial distribution characteristics of hydrochemical components and fluoride. The mechanisms behind the formation and enrichment of the high-fluoride water were also examined. Using an absolute factor analysis-multiple linear regression model (APCS-MLR), we quantitatively assessed the contributions of various factors to the hydrochemical components of groundwater in the basin. The results show the following: (1) The groundwater in the study area is generally neutral and slightly alkaline. The north of the Irtysh River is dominated by fresh water, while the south is dominated by brackish water. The rates of fluoride exceedance in the north and south of the Irtysh River are 27.91% and 44.44%, respectively. The primary chemical type of groundwater in both areas is HCO3·SO4-Na·Ca type. (2) The results of the SOM analysis suggest that fluoride may be derived from fluorine-containing minerals mixed with various elements. The APCS-MLR model indicates that the formation of groundwater chemical components in the study area is mainly affected by leaching enrichment (58.03%), groundwater pH (16.28%), and the primary geological environment (10.28%). (3) The primary factors influencing the formation of high-fluoride groundwater include mineral dissolution and precipitation, evaporation and concentration, rock weathering, and cation exchange. Additionally, the groundwater environment, climatic factors, topography, and human activities significantly contribute to the enrichment of high-fluoride groundwater.

Key words: groundwater, hydrochemistry, fluorine enrichment, Irtysh River Basin Plain