Environmental isotopic evaluation of the springs located in Kazan Trona basin in Central Turkey

Abstract

Kazan Trona ore field, the second discovered deposit in Central Turkey, is planned to be extracted by solution mining technology. Understanding the hydrogeology of the springs in such an area is vital since they can be affected during mining operations. The aim of this study is to provide an isotopic approach by utilizing environmental isotope techniques to the springs in the study area, thereby, to enhance the understanding of their occurrence by complementing the previous geochemical studies. Here, the isotopic signatures and the recharge elevations of the springs are demonstrated together with their field parameters. The relationship between δD and δ18O suggest strong evaporation in some of the samples after recharge. For those springs, the unmodified signatures were determined and the recharge elevations were calculated to be between 1100 and 1248 m. These elevations correspond to Incirlik and Asmalidere Members and upper Neogene units. The relationship between Tritium and Electrical Conductivity suggested that SP-6, SP-3 and SP-4 have shallow circulation when compared to SP-7 having both the lowest tritium and highest EC value. This finding is in accordance with the geochemical data, which suggests SP-7 emerges from the deeper, older groundwater present above the trona deposit.