Dk. Kreamer et al., TRACE-ELEMENT GEOCHEMISTRY IN WATER FROM SELECTED SPRINGS IN DEATH-VALLEY NATIONAL-PARK, CALIFORNIA, Ground water, 34(1), 1996, pp. 95-103
Concentrations of 40 trace elements and other constituents in ground w
ater from springs in Death Valley National Park were measured to inves
tigate whether trace element composition of the ground water can be re
lated to the aquifer materials. Samples from these springs were analyz
ed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for the tr
ace elements and by ion chromatography (IC) for the major anions. A Pr
incipal Component Analysis was performed on the data set. Surprise and
Scotty's Springs formed one group; Texas, Nevares, and Travertine Spr
ings formed another group; and Mesquite Springs did not group with any
of tbe others, Scotty's and Surprise Spring issued from volcanic rock
s; Texas, Nevares, and Travertine discharge from carbonate rocks; and
Mesquite Spring is located in alluvial basin-fill deposits. The first
three components in each Principal Component Analysis accounted for ap
proximately 95% of the variance in the data set. The Principal Compone
nt Analysis suggests that ground water inherits its trace element comp
osition from the rocks or aquifer material with which it has interacte
d and may be used for the purpose of identifying ground-water movement
and source.