Rare elements in ground waters of the Ukrainian Carpathians

Abstract

On the basis of the geochemical patterns of accumulation and distribution of rare metals and other trace elements in ground waters of deeply buried aquifers in the Ukrainian Carpathians, we propose a classification of metal-bearing ground waters that reflects the geochemical conditions of their formation and paragenetic relation to different types of mineral deposits. We examine the character of relationship between rare elements and aquifers and the mechanism of hydrogeochemical inversion at depth, caused by condensation, and analyze the role of various geochemical barriers to concentration and differentiation of metals in ground waters. The correlations between contents of minor and major elements dissolved in ground waters change regularly during formation of productive structures. Paleohydrogeological analysis of development of concrete geologic structures is used to determine whether geochemical zonation of ground waters can be used to discover deeply buried salt-, ore-, and petroleum-bearing structu...