Geochemistry of the Floridan aquifer system in Florida and in parts of Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama
The chemical quality of the ground water in the Floridan aquifer system is determined primarily by mineral-water interaction. However, some changes in water quality have been imposed by development, particularly near coastal pumping centers. A total of 601 chemical analyses, all from different wells, most completed in the upper part of the aquifer system, were used to describe the variations in water chemistry and to study processes responsible for observed changes. The Floridan aquifer system is a vertically continuous sequence of Tertiary carbonate rocks that are of generally high permeability and are hydraulically connected in varying degrees. The rocks are principally limestone and dolomite, but they grade into limy sands and clays near the aquifer system's updip limits. Major minerals in the aquifer system are calcite, dolomite, and locally, gypsum or quartz; minor minerals include apatite, glauconite, and clay minerals such as kaolinite and montmorillonite. Trace amounts of metallic oxides or sulfides are present in some areas. The major geochemical processes that occur in the Upper Floridan aquifer, based on water-quality maps and computations using a geochemical model, are (1) dissolution of aquifer minerals toward equilibrium, (2) mixing of ground water with recharge, leakage, or seawater, (3) sulfate reduction, and (4) cation exchange between water and aquifer minerals. Geochemical models were used to examine changes in major chemical elements along selected ground-water paths within the Upper Floridan aquifer.
- OSTI ID:
- 6164583
- Journal Information:
- United States Geological Survey, Professional Paper; (USA), Journal Name: United States Geological Survey, Professional Paper; (USA) Vol. 1403-I; ISSN XGPPA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
540310 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
ALABAMA
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
AQUIFERS
CALCITE
CALCIUM CARBONATES
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM SULFATES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATE MINERALS
CARBONATE ROCKS
CARBONATES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
CLAYS
DISSOLUTION
DOLOMITE
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FEDERAL REGION IV
FLORIDA
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOLOGIC MODELS
GEORGIA
GROUND WATER
GYPSUM
HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROLOGY
ION EXCHANGE
LEAKS
LIMESTONE
MAGNESIUM CARBONATES
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
MINERALS
MIXING
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDE MINERALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERMEABILITY
PUMPING
QUARTZ
RECHARGE
REDUCTION
ROCK-FLUID INTERACTIONS
ROCKS
SAND
SEAWATER
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SILICON OXIDES
SOLUTES
SOUTH CAROLINA
SULFATE MINERALS
SULFATES
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TRACE AMOUNTS
USA
VARIATIONS
WATER
WATER CHEMISTRY
WATER QUALITY