Abstract
AbstractWe present a new geometrical method capable of quantifying and illustrating the outcomes of a three‐component mixing dynamics. In a three‐component mixing scenario, classical algebraic equations and endmember mixing analysis (EMMA) can be used to quantify the contributions from each fraction. Three‐component mixing of natural waters, either in an element–element plot or by using the EMMA mixing subspace is described by a triangular shaped distribution of sample points where each endmember is placed on an apex, while each side corresponds to the mixing function of the two endmembers placed at the apex, considering the third endmembers' contribution equal to zero. Along each side, the theoretical mixing fractions can be computed using mass balance equations. Samples with contributions from three endmembers will plot inside the triangle, while the homogeneous barycentric coordinate projections can be projected onto the three sides. The geochemistry observed in the mineralized Ferrarelle aquifer system (southern Italy) results from three‐component mixing of groundwater, each with diagnostic geochemical compositions. The defined boundary conditions allow us to parameterize and validate the procedures for modelling mixing, including selection of suitable geochemical tracers.
Highlights
Mixing between different sources of water is one of the most common and important hydrological process in nature (e.g., Barros Grace et al, 2008; Domenico & Schwartz, 1997; Ramon et al, 2021; Stegen et al, 2016; Wilson et al, 2016)
A water solution P, produced by the three-component mixing of α, β and γ, must fall within the ternary diagram (Figure 2b) and the fractions of each endmember are given by the homogeneous barycentric coordinates related to the theoretical fractions reported on each side of the ternary diagram: FIGURE 3 Linear correlation between mean daily groundwater level data measured in F and N monitoring wells
The present investigation allowed us to test variable mixing models for fast computation and presentation of results in three-component. This graphical method works both in the algebraic computations considering a binary tracer-tracer plot and in endmember mixing analysis (EMMA) elaboration by projecting the theoretical fractions in the bidimensional space detected by the three endmembers, as it must result in a threecomponent mixing
Summary
Mixing between different sources of water is one of the most common and important hydrological process in nature (e.g., Barros Grace et al, 2008; Domenico & Schwartz, 1997; Ramon et al, 2021; Stegen et al, 2016; Wilson et al, 2016). In the western Riardo Plain, the absence of intermediate aquiclude units allows for the upwelling of deeply source mineralized fluids along faults affecting the sedimentary basement, which leads to mixing between the shallow volcanically influenced groundwater (N component) and the more deeply sourced and highly mineralized carbonate aquifer (D component), the latter of which is responsible for creating the Ferrarelle mineral springs (Cuoco et al, 2010, 2020; Sacchi et al, 2021). Recent publications, Cuoco et al (2020) identified the presence of an additional contribution in the mineral water mixing, corresponding to a lateral inflow from the phreatic carbonate aquifer of Mt. Maggiore (F component), the relevance of this contribution in the groundwater mixing is not yet defined. All the trace metal analytes reported exceeded the limits of detection and quantification as calculated according to Long and Winefordner (1983) by at least an order of magnitude
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