Hydrogeologic investigations to determine the sources of groundwater recharge of Samalut carbonate aquifer in some wadis, East El Minia, Egypt

摘要

Thirty groundwater samples were collected from wells tapping Samalut fractured carbonate aquifer in the Eastern Desert fringes of the Nile Valley in Minia. The results show a wide variation of groundwater salinity and the graphical presentation of major ion concentrations reflecting variable sources and complex mixing. The inverse evolution modelling shows that the dedolomitization, dissolution of calcite, ion exchange, pyrite and gypsum dissolution are the main mineral–solution interactions controlling the groundwater chemical evolution along flow paths. This study provides evidence on the occurrence of recharge of Samalut aquifer from both the Nile and local floods.