Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Groundwater recharge to ophiolite aquifer in North Oman: constrained by stable isotopes and geochemistry

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The current study employs geochemical and isotopic tools to understand hydrochemical and recharge processes characterizing ophiolite aquifer in North Oman in conjunction with the Hajar Super Group (HSG) aquifer. A total of 57 samples were analyzed for major ions and stable isotopes 2H and 18O. The geochemical composition of groundwater indicates that water–rock interaction and mixing are the main processes controlling groundwater chemistry. Groundwater in the HSG is characterized by carbonate minerals dissolution contrary to the groundwater in the ophiolites where silicates dissolution dominates. This results in differences in the groundwater chemical composition in the two systems. Isotopic characteristics of precipitation collected during the study period indicate two main moisture sources from the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Groundwater δ2H and δ18O values suggest two recharge sources to the ophiolite aquifer: lateral flow from the HSG and direct infiltration. Recharge from direct infiltration in the highlands, which is depleted in δ2H and δ18O, retains the same isotopic signature of precipitation, whereas that in the low land substantially reflects an evaporation effect.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Al Abri R (2009) Statistical and hydrochemical characterization of wadi Umairy. Sultanate of Oman, unpublished master thesis. Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman

  • Alyamani MS (2001) Isotopic composition of rainfall and ground-water recharge in the western province of Saudi Arabia. J Arid Environ 49:751–760

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barnes I, O’Neil JR (1978) Present day serpentinization in New Caledonia, Oman and Yugoslavia. Geochimica Cosmochim Acta 42:144–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chavagnac V, Ceuleneer G, Monnin C, Lansac B, Hoareau G, Boulart C (2013) Mineralogical assemblages forming at hyperalkaline warm springs hosted on ultramafic rocks: a case study of Oman and Ligurian ophiolites. Geochem Geophys Geosyst 14:2474–2495. doi:10.1002/ggge.20146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark ID (1988) Ground water resources in the sultanate of Oman; origin, circulation times, recharge processes and paleoclimatology, isotopic and geochemical approaches, PhD thesis. University of Paris-SUD (unpublished)

  • Craig H (1961) Isotopic variations in meteoric waters. Science 133:1702–1703

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glennie KW (2005) The geology of Oman mountains: an outline of their origin. University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen

    Google Scholar 

  • Glennie KW, Boeuf MGA, Hughes Clarke MW, Moody-Stuart M, Pilaar WFH, Reinhardt BME (1974) Geology of the Oman Mountains. Verh Kon Ned Geol Minjnb, Gen

    Google Scholar 

  • Grebby S, Cunningham D, Naden J, Tansey K (2012) Application of airborne LiDAR data and airborne multispectral imagery to structural mapping of the upper section of the Troodos ophiolite, Cyprus. Int J Earth Sci 101(6):1645–1660. doi:10.1007/s00531-011-0742-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haymon RH, Koski RA, Abrams MJ (1989) Hydrothermal discharge zones beneath massive sulfide deposits mapped in the Oman ophiolite. Geology 17:531–535

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kwarteng AY, Dorvlo AS, Vijaya Kumar GT (2009) Analysis of a 27-year rainfall data (1977–2003) in the Sultanate of Oman. Int J Climatol 29:605–617

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le Métour J, Michel JC, Béchennec F, Platel JP, Roger JE (1995) Geology and mineral wealth of the Sultanate of Oman. Directorate General of Minerals, Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals, Muscat

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorand JP, Juteau T (2000) The Haymiliyah sulphide ores (Haylayn Massif, Oman Ophiolite): in-situ segregation of PGE-poor magmatic sulphides in a fossil oceanic magma chamber. Mar Geophys Res 21(3–4):327–350

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mahlknecht J, Garfias-Solis J, Aravena R, Tesch R (2006) Geochemical and isotopic investigations on groundwater residence time and flow in the Independence Basin, Mexico. Journal of Hydrology 324(1–4): 283–300. ISSN: 0022-1694. doi: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2005.09.021

  • Mandel S, Shiftan ZL (1981) Groundwater resources: investigation and development. Academic, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Matter JM, Waber HN, Loew S, Matter A (2005) Recharge areas and geochemical evolution of groundwater in an alluvial aquifer system in the Sultanate of Oman. Hydrogeol J 14:203–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maury S, Balaji S (2014) Geoelectrical method in the investigation of groundwater resource and related issues in Ophiolite and Flysch formations of Port Blair, Andaman Island, India. Environ Earth Sci 71(1):183–199. doi:10.1007/s12665-013-2423-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Regional Municipalities & Environment and Water Resources (2006) Water resources in the Sultanate of Oman (second edition). Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources, Muscat

    Google Scholar 

  • Moline GR, Schreiber ME, Bahr JM (1998) Representative ground water monitoring in fractured porous systems. J Environ Eng 124:530–538

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moussa AB, Salem SBH, Zouari K, Jlassi F (2010) Hydrochemical and isotopic investigation of the groundwater composition of an alluvial aquifer, Cap Bon Peninsula, Tunisia. Carbonates Evaporites 25:161–176. doi:10.1007/s13146-010-0020-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Négrel P, Casanova J, Blomqvist R (2005) 87Sr/86Sr of brines from the Fennoscandian Shield: a synthesis of groundwater isotopic data from the Baltic Sea region. Can J Earth Sci 42(3):273–285. doi:10.1139/e04-103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parkhurst DL, Appelo P (1999) User’s guide to PHREEQC (Version 2): a computer program for speciation, batch-reaction, one-dimensional transport and inverse geochemical calculations. U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4259

  • Rizk ZS, Alsharhan AS (1999) Application of natural isotopes for hydrogeologic investigations in United Arab Emirates. In: Proceedings of the 4th Gulf water conference, Bahrain, 13–17 February, 1: 197–228

  • Roberts N, Wright HE Jr (1993) Vegetational, lake-level, and climatic history of the Near East and Southwest Asia. In: Global climates since the last glacial

  • Schreiber ME, Moline GR, Bahr JM (1999) Using hydrochemical facies to delineate ground water flowpaths in a fractured shale. Ground Water Monitor Remed 19:95–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Semhi K, AL-Khirbash S, Abdalla O, Khan T, Duplay J, Chaudhuri S, Al-Saidi S (2010) Dry atmospheric contribution to the plant–soil system around a cement factory: spatial variations and sources—a case study from Oman. Water Air Soil Pollut 205(1–4):343–357

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van der Hoven SJ, Solomon DK, Moline GR (2005) Natural spatial and temporal variations in groundwater chemistry in fractured, sedimentary rocks: scale and implications for solute transport. Appl Geochem 20:861–873

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weyhenmeyer CE, Burns SJ, Waber HN, Macumber PG, Matter A (2002) Isotope study of moisture sources, recharge areas and groundwater flowpaths within the Eastern Batinah coastal plain, Sultanate of Oman. Water Resour Res 38(1184):2002. doi:10.1029/2000WR000149

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was done in the frame of the His Majesty Trusted Fund research project # SR/SCI/ETHS/11/01. The authors would like to thank the staff of the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources for their support and the staff of Isotope laboratory (University of Ottawa) for isotopic analysis.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O.box 36, Al-Khod 123, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman

    Osman Abdalla, Rashid Al Abri, Khadija Semhi, Talal Al Hosni & Mansour Amerjeed

  2. Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman

    Rashid Al Abri & Mansour Amerjeed

  3. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada

    Ian Clark

Authors
  1. Osman Abdalla
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rashid Al Abri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Khadija Semhi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Talal Al Hosni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Mansour Amerjeed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Ian Clark
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Osman Abdalla.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Abdalla, O., Abri, R.A., Semhi, K. et al. Groundwater recharge to ophiolite aquifer in North Oman: constrained by stable isotopes and geochemistry. Environ Earth Sci 75, 1117 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5887-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-016-5887-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation