Chemical and geological control of spring water in Eastern Guaniguanico mountain range, Pinar del Rìo, Cuba

Abstract

Flows of different hierarchy, which travel through limestone, schist, sandstone and ultra-basic rocks, with ages from the Paleocene to the Jurassic, at Sierra del Rosario, Pinar del Rio, Cuba, were characterized. The waters were sampled from 1984 until 2004 and the data were statistically processed by means of chemical equilibrium and physico-chemical models, under a flow system view of interpretation. Results demonstrate that the physico-chemical properties of the water are controlled by water–rock interaction resulting from residence time since rainwater infiltrate and the path it follows to the discharge zone and the type of aquifer material the different groundwater flows are in contact with. Geochemical indices allow the definition of the different types of flow (local, intermediate, regional) to be characterized, permitting a further definition of the different flow systems and rock type involved, as well as its use for water supply and medical use. The main geochemical processes which control the chemical composition acquisitions mode are: congruent dissolution of calcite, dolomite, and halite; incongruent dissolution of plagioclase and microcline minerals; pyrite oxidation, sulphate reduction, and silica dissolution at the surface or silica precipitation at deep saturation and circulation zones.