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The hydrogeochemical characterization of Morsott-El Aouinet aquifer, Northeastern Algeria

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

A study of the hydrogeochemical processes in the Morsott-El Aouinet aquifer was carried out with the objective of identifying the geochemical processes and their relation with groundwater quality as well as to get an insight into the hydrochemical evaluation of groundwater. The high salinity coupled with groundwater level decline pose serious problems for current irrigation and domestic water supplies as well as future exploitation. A combined hydrogeologic and isotopic investigation have been carried out using chemical and isotopic data to deduce a hydrochemical evaluation of the aquifer system based on the ionic constituents, water types, hydrochemical facies and factors controlling groundwater quality. The ionic speciation and mineral dissolution/precipitation was calculated by WATEQF package software. The increase in salinity is related to the dissolution and/or precipitation processes during the water–rock interaction and to the cationic exchange reactions between groundwater and clay minerals. The isotopic analysis of some groundwater samples shows a similarity with the meteoric waters reflect their short residence time and a lowest evaporation phenomenon of infiltrated groundwater.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the co-operation of the Jordanian Water Authority laboratories, Laboratoire de chimie des eaux de l’Université de Tébessa, for their participation in some of the analytical programmes. Authors wish to give special thanks to Prof Elias Salameh of Jordan University, Department of Geology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Cheikh El Arbi Tébessi University, Tebessa, 12002, Algeria

    Ch. Fehdi, Aek. Rouabhia & F. Baali

  2. Département d’Hydraulique, Université de Batna, Batna, Algeria

    A. Boudoukha

  3. Route de Annaba N°71, Tebessa, 12000, Algeria

    Ch. Fehdi

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  1. Ch. Fehdi
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  2. Aek. Rouabhia
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  3. F. Baali
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  4. A. Boudoukha
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Correspondence to Ch. Fehdi.

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Fehdi, C., Rouabhia, A., Baali, F. et al. The hydrogeochemical characterization of Morsott-El Aouinet aquifer, Northeastern Algeria. Environ Geol 58, 1611–1620 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1667-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1667-4

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