https://doi.org/10.7343/as-2023-626

Hydrochemical and isotopic characterization of a complex aquifer system

Vol. 12 No. 1 (2023)
Submitted: 11 January 2023
Accepted: 28 March 2023
Published: 31 March 2023
piezometry, salinity, oxygen-18, deuterium, flow paths, Algeria
Abstract Views: 537
PDF: 374
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Authors

Faycal Toumi
faycaltoumi@hotmail.com
Université Badji-Mokhtar Annaba, Laboratoire des Ressources en Eau et Développement Durable, Annaba, Algeria.
Samir Hani
Université Badji-Mokhtar Annaba, Laboratoire des Ressources en Eau et Développement Durable, Annaba, Algeria.
Nabil Bougherira
Université Badji-Mokhtar Annaba, Laboratoire des Ressources en Eau et Développement Durable, Annaba, Algeria.
Azzedine Hani
Université Badji-Mokhtar Annaba, Laboratoire des Ressources en Eau et Développement Durable, Annaba, Algeria.
Hicham Chaffai
Université Badji-Mokhtar Annaba, Laboratoire des Ressources en Eau et Développement Durable, Annaba, Algeria.
Larbi Djabri
Université Badji-Mokhtar Annaba, Laboratoire des Ressources en Eau et Développement Durable, Annaba, Algeria.

A methodology was developed and applied to the Tindouf basin (south-western Algeria) to understand the hydrogeology of a complex aquifer system with a limited number of data, to identify the favorable areas for the design and building of new wells, and to know whether there is still current recharge of these aquifers. The principal components analysis (PCA), diagram of deuterium versus oxygen-18, and equilibrium diagrams Mg/Na and Ca/Na were the techniques used to combine different datasets in order to identify chemical and isotopic groups, which were in turn used to define the groundwater flow paths. In addition, on the basis of thermodynamic equilibrium, it is possible to define the chemical evolution of the Tindouf basin aquifer. The results of this study are consistent with the generally accepted hydrogeological conceptual model. The combination of the different methods made possible to define and and to characterise the main groundwater flow paths from their sources to the discharge zones. These flow paths are defined by water categories, which are represented by salinity and groundwater origin. This approach can be used to analyze aquifers characterized by a lack of data and can also be useful for studying other complex groundwater basins.

Dimensions

Altmetric

PlumX Metrics

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Citations

Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC
Abd El Samie, SG., & Sadek, MA. (2001). Groundwater recharge and flow in the Lower Cretaceous Nubian Sandstone aquifer in the Sinai Peninsula, using isotopic techniques and hydrochemistry. Hydrogeol J 9, 378–389. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s100400100140
Abdi, H. & Williams, LJ. (2010). Principal component analysis. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: computational Statistics, 2. doi:10.1002/wics.101. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/wics.101
Abouelmagd, A., Sultan, M., Milewski, A., et al (2012). Toward a better understanding of palaeoclimatic regimes that recharged the fossile aquifers in North Africa: inferences from stable isotope and remote sensing data. Paleogeography Paleoclimatology, Paleoecology, 329–330,137–149. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2012.02.024
Abou Zakhem, B., Al-Charideh, A., & Kattaa, B. (2017). Using principal component analysis in the investigation of groundwater hydrochemistry of Upper Jezireh Basin, Syria. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 62(14), 2266–2279. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2017.1364845
Al-Charideh, A., & Abou-Zakhem, B. (2009). Geochemical and isotopic characterization of groundwater from the Paleogene limestone aquifer of the Upper Jezireh, Syria. Environmental Earth Sciences, 59, 1065–1078. DOI: 10.1007/s12665-009-0098-1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-009-0098-1
Al-Charideh, A. (2012). Geochemical and isotopic characterization of groundwater from shallow and deep aquifers system of Aleppo basin, (north Syria). Environmental Earth Sciences, 65 (4), 1157–1168. Doi: 10.1007/s12665- 011-1364-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-011-1364-6
Abouelmagd, A., Sultan, M., Sturchio, NC. Et al (2014). Paleoclimate record in the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. Quat Res 81,158–167. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yqres.2013.10.017
Cloutier, V., Lefebre, R., Therrien, R., Savard, M. (2008). Multivariate statistical analysis of geochemical data as indicative of the hydro geochemical evolution of groundwater in a sedimentary rock aquifer system. Journal of Hydrology, 353, 294–313. Doi : 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2008.02.015 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2008.02.015
Di Curzio, D., (2019). Hydrogeochemical and hydrodynamic features affecting redox processes in groundwater. Acque Sotterranee - Italian Journal of Groundwater, 8(3). https://doi.org/10.7343/as-2019-401. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7343/as-2019-401
Dubief,I. (1953) . Essay on superficial hydrogeology in the Sahara. Thèse Sc Alger, Gvt. Gen. Algeria, Serv. Col. Et hydr, Etudes Scient, 458 pp.
Fabre J. (1976). Introduction to the geology of the algerian Sahara. S.N.E.D. éd. Algiers.
Gevin, P. (1958). Explanatory note of the geological maps at 1 :500,000, Tindouf et Eglab, Publ. Serv. Geol map. Algeria.
Gevin, P. (1960) . Geological study and reconnaissance on the cristalline axis yetti-Eglab and these ; first part sedimentary borders, geol map. Algeria new series Publ. Serv B n°23, vol. in-8, 328 pp..
Gleick, P.H. (2006). the World's Water, (2006, 2007). The Biennial Report on Fresh water Ressources. Washington, DC: Island Press. 368pp. (TD345. G633 2006).
Gleick, P.H. (2009). The World's Water, (2008-2009): The Biennial Report on Freshwater Resources. Washington, DC: Island Press. 402pp. (TD345. G633 2009).
Guendouz, A., Moulla, AS. , Edmunds, W.M., Zouari, K., Shand, P., Mamou, A. (2003). Hydro geochemical and isotopic evolution of water in the Complex Terminal aquifer in the Algerian Sahara. Hydrogeology Journal, 11, 4, 483- 495. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-003-0263-7
Idrotecno. (1979). Hydrogeological study of the Tindouf region final report IDROGE/AO-623.
Lamouroux, C., and Hani, A. (2006). Identification of groundwater flow paths in complex aquifer system. Hydrol. Process. 20, 2971–2987 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.6154
Mahia, M., Djorfi, S., Hani, A. (2017). Alternatives for water resources management in the Tindouf Basin (Algeria). J. Bio. & Env. Sci., 11(6), 123 -131.
Meggiorin, M., Bullo, P., Accoto, V., Passadore, G., Sottani, A., & Rinaldo, A. (2022). Applying the Principal Component Analysis for a deeper understanding of the groundwater system: case study of the Bacchiglione Basin (Veneto, Italy). Acque Sotterranee - Italian Journal of Groundwater, 11(2), 7–17. https://doi.org/10.7343/as-2022-573. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7343/as-2022-573
Moulla, AS., Guendouz, A. (2004). Study of groundwater resources in arid zones (Sahara Algeria) using isotopic methods international symposium on land and water. Annaba (Algeria); 35–42
Progress, Sarl -Annaba. (1999). Renovation study of the catchment field of Hassi-Abdallah (Tindouf city). Summary report, mission I, phase A and B.
Ram, R., Burg, A., Adar, E.M. (2021). The Nubian Sandstone Aquifer in the Sinai Peninsula and the Negev Desert. In: Kafri, U., Yechieli, Y. (eds) The Many Facets of Israel’s Hydrogeology. Springer Hydrogeology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51148-7_9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51148-7_9

How to Cite

Toumi, F., Hani, S., Bougherira, N., Hani, A., Chaffai, H., & Djabri, L. (2023). Hydrochemical and isotopic characterization of a complex aquifer system. Acque Sotterranee - Italian Journal of Groundwater, 12(1), 53–61. https://doi.org/10.7343/as-2023-626
Copyright (c) 2023 the Author(s) Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

PAGEPress has chosen to apply the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) to all manuscripts to be published.