Isotopic Studies of the Upper and Middle Rio Grande. Part 1 - Importance of Sulfide Weathering in the Riverine Sulfate Budget

Abstract

In order to characterize the sulfide-derived SO4 fluxes in the Rio Grande, we collected seasonally (from 2009 to 2011) riverine, agricultural drain and groundwater samples and analyzed them for their major element chemistries and the δ34S and δ18O of dissolved SO4. The observed variation of δ34S (- 4 to + 8‰) and δ18O (- 2 to + 7‰) in the Rio Grande mainly resulted from mixing between sulfide- and sulfate-derived SO4 of volcanic and sedimentary origin. Our S isotope mass balance suggests that the average sulfide-derived SO4 flux usually accounted for 83-94% (± 10-20%) of the sulfate source in the upstream Rio Grande and decreased downstream to 45-51% because of increasing contributions of sulfate-derived SO4. The sulfide-derived SO4 was related to snow melt in the high elevation watersheds and recycling of surficial sulfate-rich salts by episodic water activity in dry areas at lower elevations. Additionally, elevated bedrock sulfide contents in volcanic and some sedimentary terrains of the studied area have been recognized as important factors contributing to sulfide-derived SO4 in the Rio Grande.

Department(s)

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Budget control; Groundwater; Isotopes; Rivers; Sedimentology; Volcanoes; Water recycling; Weathering; High elevation; Isotopic study; Major elements; Middle rio grande; Oxygen isotopes; Rio Grande; Sulfide content; Water activity; Sulfur compounds; chemical weathering; oxygen isotope; river water; sulfate; sulfide; sulfur isotope; water chemistry; Rio Grande [North America]; Sulfide weathering; Sulfur and oxygen isotopes

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0009-2541

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2015 Elsevier, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Sep 2015

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