@article{21792f2ec0ed47239de6356bea3405f0,
title = "The effect of geochemical processes on groundwater in the Velenje coal basin, Slovenia: insights from mineralogy, trace elements and isotopes signatures",
abstract = "This study investigated the mineralogical and isotopic composition of groundwater and precipitation to identify and constrain geochemical processes within stacked Pliocene and Triassic aquifers in the Velenje coal basin. Scanning electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopic analysis revealed that suspended matter in the Pliocene aquifer consists of feldspars and quartz, while dolomite, calcite and feldspars are present in the aquifer dewatering Triassic strata. The concentrations of trace elements in Triassic and Pliocene aquifers range from highest to lowest Zn > Fe > Ni > Al > Ba > Mn > B>Li > Mo > As with the majority of trace element concentrations below international drinking water health guidelines. Multivariate principal component analysis indicated that concentrations of Mn, Ba, Eu, Cs, Y, Li and T, pH, conductivity and dissolved oxygen in samples were the best chemical parameter for distinguishing the two aquifers. A significant positive correlation (p < 0.05) was found between Ni, Mn, Co, Zn, As and Mo. Groundwater in the Pliocene aquifer likely has an external source of carbon based on the δ13CCO2 values (− 12.3 to − 3.6‰). The groundwater also has detectable levels of dissolved methane with isotopic values (− 77.7 to − 51.4‰ δ13CCH4; − 247 to − 162‰ δ2HCH4) consistent with microbial methanogenesis. The groundwater in the Triassic aquifer has tritium values (up to 4.1 TU 3H) characteristic of modern recharge (< 50 years), while the lack of detectable 3H (0 TU) in the Pliocene aquifer is consistent with longer residence times.",
keywords = "Geochemical processes, Isotopes, SEM, Slovenia, Trace elements, Velenje coal basin",
author = "Tja{\v s}a Kandu{\v c} and Zdenka {\v S}lejkovec and Polona Vre{\v c}a and Zoran Samard{\v z}ija and Timotej Verbov{\v s}ek and Darian Bo{\v z}i{\v c} and Sergej Jamnikar and Solomon, {D. Kip} and Fernandez, {Diego P.} and Christopher Eastoe and Jennifer McIntosh and Nata{\v s}a Mori and Fausto Grassa",
note = "Funding Information: This study was performed as part of research projects: L1-5451, N1-0054, bilateral cooperation: BI-US/12-13-039 (Fluid dynamics and carbon cycling in sedimentary basins: geochemical characterization, evaluation of biogeochemical processes and modeling) and program funding: P1-0143, P1-0195, P2-0084, financially supported by the Slovenian Research Agency and the Velenje Coalmine d.o.o. Particularly, we thank Mr. Igor Medved for help with sampling and Mr. Nejc Skarlovnik for creating the groundwater contour map. For graphical support, we thank Patrik Ku{\v s}ter. Thanks to MASSTWIN-H2020 Twinning project; Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation in Support of Mass Spectrometry and Related Techniques in Health, Environment, and Food Analysis (Grant Agreement No. 692241). Funding Information: This study was performed as part of research projects: L1-5451, N1-0054, bilateral cooperation: BI-US/12-13-039 (Fluid dynamics and carbon cycling in sedimentary basins: geochemical characterization, evaluation of biogeochemical processes and modeling) and program funding: P1-0143, P1-0195, P2-0084, financially supported by the Slovenian Research Agency and the Velenje Coalmine d.o.o. Particularly, we thank Mr. Igor Medved for help with sampling and Mr. Nejc Skarlovnik for creating the groundwater contour map. For graphical support, we thank Patrik Ku{\v s}ter. Thanks to MASSTWIN-H2020 Twinning project; Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation in Support of Mass Spectrometry and Related Techniques in Health, Environment, and Food Analysis (Grant Agreement No. 692241). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.",
year = "2019",
month = nov,
doi = "10.1007/s42452-019-1561-6",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "1",
journal = "SN Applied Sciences",
issn = "2523-3971",
publisher = "Springer Nature",
number = "11",
}