Geochemistry for

Ground-Water Systems
March 14-18, 2011
David Parkhurst
Pierre Glynn
Ray Johnson
1

Processes that Control Major

Element Chemistry
1. Carbonate reactions
2. Ion exchange
3. Organic carbon oxidation
O2/Nitrate reduction
Iron oxyhydroxide reduction
Sulfate reduction
Methanogenesis
4. Gypsum dissolution
5. Pyrite oxidation
6. Seawater evaporation
7. Silicate weathering
2

Processes that Control Minor

Element Chemistry
1. Redox
Oxyanions
Trace metals
Nitrate
2. Surface complexation
Phosphate
Oxyanions
Trace metals
3. Cation exchange
4. Solid solutions
5. Minerals
3

Geochemistry for GroundWater Systems

Chemistry of waters
Predicting water-rock interactions
Mineral solubility
Cation exchange
Surface complexation
Redox reactions
Kinetic reactions

Geochemistry for GroundWater Systems

Deducing water-rock interactions
Mixing
Minerals
Gases
Ion exchange
Reactive transport

Geochemistry and PHREEQC

It takes a few days to learn PHREEQC
It takes a few years to learn geochemistry
There is no substitute for study and experience

Geochemistry for Ground-Water Systems

Monday: The chemistry of solutionsDavid
Tuesday: Forward modelingRay
Mixing
Minerals
Redox
Evaporation
Gas phase
Wednesday:
Ion exchangePierre
Surface complexationPierre
KineticsRay
Thursday:
Inverse modelingPierre, Montezuma wells am
1D Reactive transportDavid pm
Watershed modelingRick
Friday
3D reactive transportDavid
Discussion