Trace element hydrochemistry indicating water contamination in and around the Yangbajing geothermal field, Tibet, China.
Thirty-eight water samples were collected at Yangbajing to investigate the water contamination resulting from natural geothermal water discharge and anthropogenic geothermal wastewater drainage. The results indicate that snow or snow melting waters, Yangbajing River waters and cold groundwaters are free from geothermal water-related contamination, whereas Zangbo river waters are contaminated by geothermal wastewaters. Moreover, there may exist geothermal springs under the riverbed of a tributary stream of Zangbo River as shown by its Cd, Li, Mo and Pb concentrations. The efforts made in this study show trace element hydrochemistry can well indicate water quality degradation related to geothermal water exploitation.
Guo
Qinghai
Q
School of Environmental Studies & Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology of Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences, 430074, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
Wang
Yanxin
Y
D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D045482:Hot Springs; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D018609:Tibet; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014872:Water Movements; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014131:Trace Elements; D014873:Water Pollutants