Controls on the geochemistry of rare earth elements along a groundwater flow path in the Carrizo Sand aquifer, Texas, USA

Groundwater samples were collected along a groundwater flow path in the Carrizo Sand aquifer in south Texas, USA. Field measurements that included pH, specific conductivity, temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), oxidation–reduction potentials (Eh in mV), alkalinity, iron speciation, and H2S concentrations were also conducted on site. The geochemistry (i.e., concentrations, shale-normalized patterns, and speciation) of dissolved rare element elements (REEs) in the Carrizo groundwaters are described as a function of distance along a flow path. Eh and other redox indicators (i.e., DO, Fe speciation, H2S, U, and Re) indicate that redox conditions change along the flow path in the Carrizo Sand aquifer. Within the region of the aquifer proximal to the recharge zone, groundwaters exhibit both highly oxidizing and localized mildly reducing conditions. However, from roughly 10 km to the discharge zone, groundwaters are reducing and exhibit a progressive decrease in redox conditions. Dissolved REE geochemical behavior exhibits regular variations along the groundwater flow path in the Carrizo Sand aquifer. The changes in REE concentrations, shale-normalized patterns, and speciation indicate that REEs are not conservative tracers. With flow down-gradient, redox conditions, pH and solution composite, and adsorption modify groundwater REE concentrations, fractionation patterns, and speciation.