title: Major ion chemistry and weathering processes in the Midyan Basin, northwestern Saudi Arabia.
abstract: Chemical characteristics of 72 groundwater samples collected from Midyan Basin have been studied to evaluate major ion chemistry together with the geochemical and weathering processes controlling the water composition. Water chemistry of the study area is mainly dominated by Na, Ca, SO4, and Cl. The molar ratios of (Ca + Mg)/total cations, (Na + K)/total cations, (Ca + Mg)/(Na + K), (Ca + Mg)/(HCO3 + SO4), (Ca + Mg)/HCO3, and Na/Cl reveal that water chemistry of the Midyan Basin is controlled by evaporite dissolution (gypsum and/or anhydrite, and halite), silicate weathering, and minor contribution of carbonate weathering. The studied groundwater samples are largely undersaturated with respect to dolomite, gypsum, and anhydrite. These waters are capable of dissolving more of these minerals under suitable physicochemical conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geology and Geophysics, Faculty of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. haghrefat@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Habes A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Ghrefat
authors.forename: Awni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Batayneh
authors.forename: Haider
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zaman
authors.forename: Taisser
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zumlot
authors.forename: Eslam
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Elawadi
authors.forename: Yousef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nazzal
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D007477:Ions / Q000032:analysis; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014887:Weather
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D008903:Minerals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical