TRACE-ELEMENT GEOCHEMISTRY IN WATER FROM SELECTED SPRINGS IN DEATH-VALLEY NATIONAL-PARK, CALIFORNIA

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.