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Strontium 87/strontium 86 ratios as tracers in groundwater and surface waters in Mono Basin, California
Author(s) -
Neumann Klaus,
Dreiss Shirley
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/95wr02565
Subject(s) - strontium , geology , isotopes of strontium , groundwater , geochemistry , surface runoff , structural basin , surface water , hydrology (agriculture) , radiogenic nuclide , volcano , spring (device) , shore , volcanic rock , geomorphology , environmental science , oceanography , mantle (geology) , mechanical engineering , ecology , geotechnical engineering , environmental engineering , engineering , biology , physics , nuclear physics
The 87 Sr/ 86 Sr isotope ratios in spring waters in Mono Basin, California, are highly variable and reflect contact with different rock types. Whole rock 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios throughout the basin range between 0.7054 and 0.7281. Ratios in surface water samples differ greatly between runoff from the mainly granitic Sierra (0.7094–0.7097) and runoff from the volcanic regions (0.7054–0.7064). The ratio in Mono Lake water (0.7096) is similar to the ratios of streams from the Sierra Nevada. Springs close to the western shoreline have more radiogenic Sr ratios (0.7092–0.7100), while those on the east side have ratios (0.7081–0.7088) indicative of a mixture of water from the volcanic terrain and Mono Lake. Thermal springs at the south side of the lake have 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios of 0.7081–0.7089 and might originate in Paleozoic limestones at depth.