TRACING GROUNDWATER WITH STRONTIUM ISOTOPIC COMPOSITIONS IN THE HEXI CORRIDOR BASIN,NORTHWESTERN CHINA

摘要

The strontium isotopes can be used to trace the groundwater, and the basic principle of tracing groundwater with strontium isotopic compositions is introduced. As the natural traces, the composition of strontium isotopes can be used to distinguish the characteristics of the rock through which the groundwater flows. We measured the strontium and carbon isotopic compositions of the groundwater to receive the information of the surrounding rock, indicating that the groundwater moves through the marine carbonate aquifer and the continental silicate aquifer. Additionally, the δ13C values show that the carbon dioxide is predominately derived from the deep earth. Therefore, the groundwater recharge is associated with the fault zone of the study area, and the flow path of groundwater can be got from the result of the strontium isotopes.