Water Sources and Factors Controlling Hydro-chemical Compositions in the Yiluo River Basin

Abstract

An important tributary in the middle stream of the Yellow River, the Yiluo River consists of the Luohe River and Yihe River, which converge at Yanshi City. Mining activities were widely distributed in the upstream of the Yiluo River Basin (YRB), while residential areas concentrated in the downstream were coupled with extensively industrial and agricultural activities. To illustrate the influences of variable anthropogenic activities on the hydro-chemical composition of river water of the YRB, water samples from the main stream and tributaries were collected in the flood season (August) and normal season (December), respectively. The hydrogen and oxygen isotope values coupled with cation and anion content were analyzed. Temporal and spatial variations of hydrogen and oxygen isotopes and ion content were utilized to elucidate the sources and factors controlling the hydro-chemical composition of the river water, and to illustrate the pathways of human effects. The results demonstrated that:① Average hydrogen and oxygen isotope values (δD and δ18O) of Luo River water were -56‰ and -7.9‰, and -55‰ and -8.1‰ in the flood season and normal season, respectively. Mean δD and δ18O values of Yi River water were -49‰ and -6.9‰, and -53‰ and -7.8‰ in the flood season and normal season, respectively. These temporal variations indicated that river water was mainly recharged by local atmospheric precipitation. ② The dominant water hydro-chemical type was HCO3-SO4-Ca-Mg in the main stream of the YRB, and the ratios of Ca2+ and HCO3- molar equivalent concentrations in the flood season were lower than those in the normal season, while the ratios of SO42- molar equivalent concentrations were higher than those in the normal season, indicating more sulfate dissolved in the river water in the flood season. ③ Carbonic acid and sulfuric acid simultaneously reacted with carbonate and silicate rocks, and in the Luo River more carbonate rocks were weathered, while in the Yi River more silicate rocks were weathered. ④ Human effects on river water were mainly concentrated in the upstream where wastewater input was derived from mining activities, while in the downstream pollution of the river was due to industrial wastewater and sewage input. ⑤ Spatial variations of sulfate sulfur isotope values were mostly due to differences between anthropogenic activities in the upstream and downstream of the Yiluo River. Negative sulfur isotope values in the upstream river water confirmed dissolved sulfate from sulfide mineral oxidation, which also indirectly verified the rock chemical weathering by sulfuric acid in this area. Positive sulfur isotope values in downstream river water were connected with industrial wastewater and sewage.