Abstract
Precipitation, surface, and groundwater samples were collected during 2009–2010 in the Sarcheshmeh copper mine drainage basin, Kerman Province, Iran. Groundwater samples were collected from both shallow and deep aquifers. All of the samples were analyzed for stable isotopes, deuterium (2H), and oxygen-18 (18O), and some were analyzed for tritium (3H). The results show a more restricted range of isotopic composition in groundwater samples than in precipitation samples based on the isotopic composition of the precipitation. The isotopic composition of surface and groundwater samples plot to the right of the local meteoric water line of the Sarcheshmeh area and around the evaporation line, indicating that the groundwater within the study area originates from meteoric water that has undergone secondary evaporation before or during recharge. Tritium was below the detection limit in the deep groundwater samples while shallow groundwater samples had tritium concentrations between 1.2 and 1.7 TU, which indicates a longer residence time for deep groundwater.
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