Arid Zone Research ›› 2024, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (6): 917-927.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2024.06.02

• Land and Water Resources • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Analysis of the hydrochemistry characteristics and groundwater recharge sources in the Hotan River Basin, China

LI Xiaodeng1,2(), CHANG Liang1,3, DUAN Rui1, WANG Qian1, ZHANG Qunhui1, YANG Bingchao1   

  1. 1. Xi’an Center of Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Xi’an 710054, Shaanxi, China
    2. Urumqi Natural Resources Comprehensive Survey Center, China Geological Survey, Urumqi 830000, Xinjiang, China
    3. Key Laboratory for Groundwater and Ecology in Arid and Semi-arid Areas, China Geological Survey, Xi’an 710054, Shaanxi, China
  • Received:2023-10-10 Revised:2024-01-26 Online:2024-06-15 Published:2024-07-03

Abstract:

The characteristics of hydrochemistry and groundwater recharge in the Hotan River Basin were studied by analyzing the chemical composition of water, primary recharge sources, and mutual transformation of water bodies (wells, ponds, and rivers) in the different geomorphic units. For this, SPSS statistical analysis, Piper diagram, Gibbs diagram, and isotope tracing methods (D, 18O, and 14C) were used. The results showed that (1) the water bodies mainly originated from the ice- and snow-meltwater and precipitation in the mid and high mountainous areas>2000 m in the south. From the mountains to the desert, the chemical type and salinity of the groundwater showed obvious zonal characteristics. The different water bodies were weakly alkaline, and the ion composition and TDS values varied with the overall order of pond>well>river. The NO3- contents of a few groundwater samples were significantly abnormal. (2) the groundwater in the gravel plain area mainly received vertical and disconnected recharge from the surface river water. The groundwater had a fast renewal rate, low salinity, and major water-rock interactions, mainly of the SO4·Cl-Ca·Mg type. (3) the TDS value of the groundwater in the fine soil plain area varied over an extensive range, mostly of the Cl·SO4-Na type. In the inter-river block, the groundwater near the upstream received surface water and lateral runoff from the adjacent areas, and the 14C age was small. “Drift Oxygen” of δD and δ18O isotopes in the groundwater of the middle and lower reaches could be generally observed. The 14C age of the groundwater in the watershed was considerable but minuscule near the riverbank. The relation between the groundwater and the river was close. On both sides of the inter-river block, the groundwater runoff flowed along the northeast and northwest directions, respectively, and finally discharged into the peripheral desert area. The research results can provide a theoretical basis for the reasonable development and utilization of water resources and protect the ecology and environment of the Hotan River Basin.

Key words: hydrochemistry, groundwater, recharging source, isotope, Hotan River Basin