ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Hydrochemical Characteristics and
Formation Mechanisms of an Antimony
Mining Activity Area in the Upstream Water
Source of Danjiangkou Reservoir, China
More details
Hide details
1
Xi'an Center of Mineral Resources Survey, China Geological Survey, Xi'an 710100, China
2
Qinling-Loess Plateau Transition Zone Observation and Research Station for Coupling of Soil and Water Elements and
Conservation of Biological Resources, Tongguan 714300, China
Submission date: 2024-07-07
Final revision date: 2024-08-28
Acceptance date: 2024-10-28
Online publication date: 2024-12-23
Corresponding author
Hao Zhao
Xi'an Center of Mineral Resources Survey, China Geological Survey, Xi'an 710100, China
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Antimony (Sb) is a major environmental pollutant that is widely present in nature and possesses
toxicity and potential carcinogenicity. The mining of antimony ore can affect the quality of the water
environment and the safety of drinking water for residents in the area. Taking the Gaolinggou antimony
mining area in the Danjiangkou water source for the Middle Route of South-to-North Water Diversion
Project (MRSNWDP) in China as the research object, systematic hydrochemical samples and hydrogen
and oxygen isotope samples were collected for comprehensive hydrogeochemical analysis. The results
show that: (1) The pH range of surface water in the study area is 3.09-8.30, with a mean of 7.21,
indicating an overall neutral condition, while some local areas are acidic. The range of TH is 243.00-
439.00 mg/L, with a mean of 314.69 mg/L. The TDS ranges from 262.00 to 598.00 mg/L, averaging at
384.38 mg/L. The dominant cations are Ca2+ and Mg2+, while the dominant anions are HCO3
- and SO4
2-
. The hydrochemical types vary frequently in space, including HCO3·SO4-Ca·Mg, SO4·HCO3-Ca·Mg,
HCO3-Ca·Mg, and SO4-Ca·Mg. For groundwater, the mean pH is 7.52, with TH and TDS ranging
from 269.00-542.00 mg/L and 291.00-652.00 mg/L, respectively, averaging at 426.67 mg/L and 504.67
mg/L, both slightly higher than those of surface water. The dominant cations and anions are Ca2+ and
HCO3
-, respectively, with hydrochemical types mainly HCO3-Ca·Mg and HCO3·SO4-Ca·Mg. The mine
water has a pH value of 8.03, indicating a weakly alkaline condition with the highest TDS content. It is
rich in SO4
2-, Ca2+, and Mg2+, and the hydrochemical type is SO4·HCO3-Ca·Mg. (2) The hydrochemical
characteristics in the study area are primarily controlled by rock weathering, with carbonate and
silicate weathering and dissolution as the main processes. Positive cation exchange occurs in the water
bodies. Surface water is significantly affected by mining activities, while groundwater is influenced by a combination of agricultural activities, domestic sewage, and mining activities. (3) In addition
to atmospheric precipitation and dissolution of salt rocks, the excess Na+ in the water bodies mainly
originates from the dissolution of sodium-bearing silicates and the contribution of cation exchange
processes. Ca2+ and Mg2+ mainly originate from the weathering of carbonate rocks dominated by calcite
and the dissolution of gypsum. Carbonic acid and sulfuric acid both participate in the weathering
and dissolution of carbonate rocks. So4
2- and Cl- are significantly influenced by mining activities. The
antimony in surface water is primarily influenced by the mining of antimony ore, with the average
concentration of antimony in the mining area being 6.4 times that of the mainstream of the Luohe River.
Meanwhile, the antimony in groundwater mainly originates from the lateral recharge of surface water.
The results can provide a reference for the water resource security assurance and rational development
and utilization of the MRSNWDP.