Db. Levy et al., The shallow ground water chemistry of arsenic, fluorine, and major elements: Eastern Owens Lake, California, APPL GEOCH, 14(1), 1999, pp. 53-65
Owens Lake in SE California became essentially dry by the 1920s after the L
os Angeles Aqueduct was constructed and diversion of water from the Owens R
iver began. Frequent dust storms at Owens Lake produce clouds of effloresce
nt salts which present human health hazards as a result of their small part
icle size and elevated concentrations of As and SO4. This study was conduct
ed to characterize the evolution of major elements in ground water in easte
rn Owens Lake and to examine the factors controlling the concentrations of
dissolved As and F. Evapoconcentration of shallow ground waters at the lake
bed surface produces high pH, high alkalinity brines with major ion composi
tions that are consistent with those predicted by the Hardie-Eugster Model.
Evaporite minerals identified in the surface salts using XRD were halite (
NaCl), thenardite (Na2SO4), trona (Na3H(CO3)(2). 2H(2)O), pirssonite (Na2Ca
(CO3)(2). 2H(2)O), and nesquehonite (MgCO3. 3H(2)O). Significant correlatio
ns between both As and F with Li in shallow ground waters indicate that As
and F are not partitioned into surface salts until very high salinities are
reached (> 9.0 m). Leaching experiments show that As and F can be readily
released from lakebed salts when exposed to natural precipitation. Conserva
tive behavior of As and F results from the high pH values and low Ca activi
ties of shallow ground waters that contribute to: (1) redox stability of As
(V) even at moderately reducing conditions, (2) a decrease in the adsorptio
n affinities of As and F to mineral surfaces, (3) undersaturation with resp
ect to fluorite (CaF2(s)). (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserv
ed.