| South-Central Section - 39th Annual Meeting (April 1–2, 2005) | |
| Paper No. 5-4 | |
| Presentation Time: 3:30 PM-3:50 PM | ||
THE CASE FOR CATION EXCHANGE IN THE EDWARDS-TRINITY (PLATEAU) AQUIFER SYSTEM | ||
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NANCE, H.S., John A. and Katherine G. Jackson School of Geosciences, The Univ of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station, Austin, TX 78712, seay.nance@beg.utexas.edu and SHARP, John M. Jr, Department of Geological Sciences, The Univ of Texas, Jackson School of Geosciences, Austin, TX 78712-0254
The Edwards-Trinity (Plateau) aquifer system is composed of several hydrochemically distinct Cretaceous-age siliciclastic and carbonate intervals. Abundances of and relationships between major ionic constituents demonstrate geographic and stratigraphic hydrochemical variability. The generally semi-confined Antlers (Trinity) siliciclastic aquifer is overall more saline than is the generally unconfined overlying karst-influenced Fredericksburg Division (Edwards) carbonate aquifer. The operational parameter LOG[(Ca+Mg)/(Na2)] shows significantly lower values in Antlers than in Edwards water and reflect relatively greater abundance of Na+ compared with Ca2+ and Mg2+. Corresponding values of Na/Cl are generally greater than 1 (molar or equivalent units) and demonstrate relative concentrations of Na+ that exceed expected values based on dissolution of halite (1.0) or mixing with residual seawater (0.86). Corresponding values of (Ca+Mg)/(HCO3+SO4) that reflect the dissolution products from calcite, dolomite, and gypsum are less than 1 (equivalent units) and demonstrate relative depletion of Ca2+ and Mg2+. These data are best explained by cation exchange whereby Na+ has been exchanged on clay surfaces for Ca2+ and Mg2+, thus enriching sodium and depleting calcium and magnesium in groundwater. The greater abundance of clay in the Antlers explains the relative prominence of exchange in its water compared to that from the Edwards. | ||
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South-Central Section - 39th Annual Meeting (April 1–2, 2005)
General Information for this Meeting | ||
| Session No. 5 Faulting and Related Deformation in the Balcones Fault System and Influence on the Edwards and Trinity Aquifers Trinity University: Stieren Theater 1:40 PM-4:30 PM, Friday, April 1, 2005 Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 37, No. 3, p. 8 | ||
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