thumbnail

Aqua de Ney, California, a spring of unique chemical character

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
By: , , and 
https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(61)90107-7

Links

Abstract

The chemistry of water of Aqua de Ney, a cold spring of unusual character located in Siskiyou County, Calif., has been re-examined as part of a study of the relation of water chemistry to rock environment. The water has a pH of 11·6 and a silica content of 4000 parts per million (p.p.m.), the highest values known to occur in natural ground waters.

The rocks exposed nearby consist of two volcanic sequences, one predominantly basaltic in composition, the other highly siliceous. Neither these rocks nor the sedimentary and igneous rocks presumed to underlie the area at depth seem to offer explanation of the unusual mineralization which includes 240 p.p.m. of boron, 1000 p.p.m. of sulphide (as H2S), and 148 p.p.m. of ammonia nitrogen (as NH4) in a water that is predominantly sodium chloride and sodium carbonate in character.

By analogy, it is assumed that water from Aqua de Ney is the product of an initial mixture of connate sea water with a calcium magnesium sulphate water. It is postulated that ion exchange has increased the content of sodium and reduced that of calcium and magnesium, and that sulphate reduction has brought about the high alkalinity, high pH, and high content of sulphide. The large silica value is explained as the result of solution of silica by water having the high pH observed.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Aqua de Ney, California, a spring of unique chemical character
Series title Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
DOI 10.1016/0016-7037(61)90107-7
Volume 22
Issue 2-4
Year Published 1961
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Description 14 p.
First page 75
Last page 86
Country United States
State California
County Siskiyou County
Other Geospatial Aqua de Ney Spring
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details