SIMILARITIES IN THE CHEMICAL-COMPOSITION OF CARBONATE GROUNDWATERS AND SEAWATER

Fifty-four elements were quantified in spring waters emanating from ca rbonate rock in Ash Meadows, in southern Nevada, and in Death Valley, CA. The results show th at the concentrations of ma ny of the trace el ements found in these groundwaters are remarkably close to those found in modern seawater. The concentrations of 26 of the elements in the s pring waters and seawater are within a factor of 2; 14 more are within a factor of 10; 8 elements are enriched in the groundwater by more th an a factor of 10; and 6 elements are depleted by more than a factor o f 10. Similarities in the trace chemical composition of ancient seawat er and modern seawater can be inferred from the fingerprint of trace e lements found in these carbonate rock-source spring waters.