Chemical weathering of a granitic watershed: coupling Lithium isotopes and reactive transport modeling, preliminary results.

International audienceIn the present study, we report lithium concentrations and Li isotopic compositions for different samples within a granitic watershed (Margeride, France). We investigate unweathered bedrock and samples displaying different stages of weathering in order to characterize Li isotopic fractionation. This was achieved by coupling lithium isotope geochemistry and reactive transport modeling during granite weathering at the scale of this watershed. The following manuscript reports methodology and the preliminary data

Strontium isotope geochemistry of alluvial groundwater: a tracer for groundwater resources characterisation

International audienceThis study presents strontium isotope and major ion data of shallow groundwater and river water from the Ile du Chambon catchment, located on the Allier river in the Massif Central (France). There are large variations in the major-element contents in the surface- and groundwater. Plotting of Na vs. Cl contents and Ca, Mg, NO3, K, SO4, HCO3, Sr concentrations reflect water–rock interaction (carbonate dissolution for Ca, Mg, HCO3 and Sr because the bedrock contains marly limestones), agricultural input (farming and fertilising) and sewage effluents (for NO3, K, SO4), although some water samples are unpolluted. Sr contents and isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr vary from 0.70892 to 0.71180 along the hydrological cycle) in the groundwater agree with previous work on groundwater in alluvial aquifers in the Loire catchment. The data plot along three directions in a 87Sr/86Sr v. 1/Sr diagram as a result of mixing, involving at least three geochemical signatures–Allier river water, and two distinct signatures that might be related to different water-rock interactions in the catchment. Mixing proportions are calculated and discussed. The alluvial aquifer of the Ile du Chambon catchment is considered, within the Sr isotope systematic, in a larger scheme that includes several alluvial aquifers of the Loire Allier catchment. Keywords: : Loire river, major and trace elements, Sr isotopic ratio, alluvial aquifer, hydrolog

Interaction eau-roche-CO2 en contexte de fuite contrôlée de CO2: apport du monitoring géochimique et isotopique lors d'un cas réel d'injection de CO2

Cette étude montre, dans un cas réel d'injection de CO2, comment une approche multi- isotopique (B, Li, S, O, Sr) combinée aux données chimiques permet (i) de tracer indirectement la réactivité et présence du CO2, (ii) de contraindre et comprendre précisément les interactions eau-roche-CO2 et les réponses isotopiques. L'originalité de ce travail consiste à utiliser des outils isotopiques développés dans les géosciences pour les appliquer à ce contexte particulier. L'idée majeure est d'utiliser ces outils comme traceurs des interactions eau-roche-CO2 afin de détecter toute anomalie de fuites de CO2 non décelables par les autres moyens de monitoring existant

Delta97/95Mo in molybdenites from the Azegour skarn (Morocco)

International audienceMolybdenum (Mo) isotopes are frequently used to investigate ocean and lake (paleo-)redox conditions. In the frame of mineral ressources, only few studies have been performed regarding Mo-Re-Os isotopes. The aim of this study is to understand the source, processes and mobility of metals concentrations using Mo isotopes on molybdenites in different ore deposits. The present study focuses on the Azegour skarn (Morocco). Located in the High-Atlas, the Azegour site is one of the rare Mo-W-Cu exploited skarns (three historic mines). It is formed by a granitic intrusion (271±3Ma) in cambrian volcano-sedimentary serie composed by schists, volcanic complex (andesites, pyroclastites) and carbonate formations (calcareous and dolomites). The skarn takes place in the carbonate formations where pyroxenites and grenatites occured. The grenatites being the Mo-bearing minerals in the form of molybdenites. Molybdenites sampling has been performed in the main mine (Azegour) and in the Tizgui mine (1km north of the Azegour mine). The Mo isotopic composition has been determined on molybdenites using a MC-ICP-MS Neptune after aquaregia dissolution and adjustment to [Mo] = 1µg.g-1. The δ97/95Mo ratios have been normalized to NBS3134 and a reproducibility of 0.07‰ (2σ) is reached. Presently, we have analysed 12 molybdenites from Azegour and 2 from Tizgui and 14 others are in progress. Regarding the first 14 samples, the δ97/95MoNBS ratios vary between -0.40 and 0.32‰ for Azegour and between 0.08 and 0.30‰ for Tizgui. It is worth noting that variations can occur either at the whole site (difference of about 0.72‰) but also at the cm scale in the same sample (here the largest observed difference is up to 0.40‰). Regarding the Azegour skarn, there is no direct relationship for explaining the Mo fractionation in molydbenites between the facies or the two sites of sampling. Different processes will be discussed to explain the observed variability (redox conditions prevaling during the molydbenites deposits, late metamophism phase...). Further investigations using Pb and S isotopic compositions will help deciphering the oxidation state and the origin of molybdenites regarding the possible different fluids

Boron Isotope Characterization to Design a Frame of Hydrogeological Functioning of a Wetland System (Massif Central, France)

AbstractMulti-isotopic approaches (Li, Sr, O, H), combined with hydrological tools, have been already appliedfor tracing the water and dissolved-element fluxes in a peatland in Central France. Here, we applied B isotopes. The δ11B ratios increase from river draining basalts (∼ 0‰) up to springs bordering the peatland (>+25‰). Peatland groundwaters have intermediate δ11B: 7.8 to 19.4‰. This range is accompanied by an increase in the Ca contents between the river draining basalts and water in the peatland. In aδ11B vs.Ca/B diagram, the role of water rock interaction and present day fertilizer inputs is evidenced, as for Sr isotopes

La Loire, usine à carbonates

Les matières en suspension estivales du cours moyen de la Loire ont une composition chimique et minéralogique très particulière : elles sont plus riches en silice, du fait de la présence de diatomées, et plus riches en calcium lié à la présence de cristaux de calcite endogénique, que dans le cours amont. En effet, dans ce tronçon ligérien, les blooms phytoplanctoniques, nombreux et denses, perturbent l'équilibre des carbonates dissous. La calcite peut alors se former directement dans les eaux de la Loire, phénomène qui est, à ce jour, peu décrit dans les fleuves des zones tempérées

Lithium isotopes in low and high temperature hydrosystems

International audienceAssessing the origin and behaviour of lithium and the distribution of Li isotopes in hydro-systems is of major importance in order to increase our knowledge of the lithium cycling at the Earth's surface. Lithium is a fluid-mobile element and due to the large relative mass difference between its two stable isotopes, it is subject to significant low and high temperature mass fractionation which provides key information on the nature of water/rock interaction processes. The main objective of the present work is to constrain the behaviour of Li and its isotopes by focusing on three different hydrosystems: rainwaters, river waters and deep geothermal waters

Tracking selenium in the Chalk aquifer of northern France: Sr isotope constraints

International audienceGroundwater at the southern and eastern edges of France's Paris Basin has a selenium content that at times exceeds the European Framework Directive's drinking-water limit value of 10 µg/L. To better understand the dynamics of the Chalk groundwater being tapped to supply the city of Lille and the Se origins, we used a combination of geochemical and isotopic tools. Strontium isotopes, coupled with Ca/Sr, Mg/Sr and Se/Sr ratios, were used to identify the main groundwater bodies and their mixings, with the Mg/Sr ratio constraining a ternary system. Groundwater in the agricultural aquifer-recharge zone represents a first end-member and displays the youngest water ages of the catchment along with the highest strontium isotopic signature (0.7084) and low Se contents. Anaerobic groundwater constitutes a second major end-member affected by water-rock interactions over a long residence time, with the lowest strontium isotopic signature (0.7079) and the lowest Se content, its low SF6 content confirming the contribution of old water. Se-rich groundwater containing up to 30 µg/L of Se represents a third major end-member, with an intermediate Sr isotopic ratio, and is mainly constrained by the clayey Se-rich formation overlying the Chalk aquifer. The spatial and temporal Se variability in the groundwater is clearly linked to the presence of this formation identified as Tertiary and also to the hydrological conditions; saturation of the Se-rich clays by oxygenated groundwater enhances Se mobility and also Sr adsorption onto the clays. This multi-tool study including Sr isotopes successfully identified the Se origins in the aquifer and has led to a better understanding of the regional mixing and processes affecting the Chalk groundwater

Applications of stable water and carbon isotopes in watershed research: Weathering, carbon cycling, and water balances

Research on rivers has traditionally involved concentration and flux measurements to better understand weathering, transport and cycling of materials from land to ocean. As a relatively new tool, stable isotope measurements complement this type of research by providing an extra label to characterize origin of the transportedmaterial, its transfer mechanisms, and natural versus anthropogenic influences. These new stable isotope techniques are scalable across a wide range of geographic and temporal scales. This review focuses on three aspects of hydrological and geochemical river research that are of prime importance to the policy issues of climate change and include utilization of stable water and carbon isotopes: (i) silicate and carbonate weathering in river basins, (ii) the riverine carbon and oxygen cycles, and (iii) water balances at the catchment scale. Most studies at watershed scales currently focus on water and carbon balances but future applications hold promise to integrate sediment fluxes and turnover, ground and surface water interactions, as well as the understanding of contaminant sources and their effects in river systems

CO2 leakage up from a geological storage site to shallow fresh groundwater: CO2-water-rock interaction assessment and development of sensitive monitoring

International audienceThe assessment of environmental impacts of carbon dioxide storage in geological repository requires the investigation of the potential CO2 leakage back into fresh groundwater, particularly with respect to protected groundwater reserves. We are starting a new project whith the aims of developing sensitive monitoring techniques in order to detect potential CO2 leaks and their magnitude as well as their geochemical impacts on the groundwater. In a predictive approach goal, a modelling study of the geochemical impact on fresh groundwaters of a CO2 intrusion during geological storage was performed and serves as a basis for the development of sensitive monitoring techniques (e.g. isotope tracing). Then, isotopic monitoring opportunities will be explored. A modeling study of the geochemical impact on fresh groundwaters of the ingress of CO2 during geological storage was conducted. The 3D model includes (i) storage saline aquifer, (ii) impacted overlying aquifer containing freshwater and (iii) a leakage path way up through an abandoned well represented as 1D porous medium and corresponding to the cement-rock formation interface. This model was used to simulate the supercritical CO2 migration path and the interaction between the fluid and the host rock