Hydrogeochemistry of high-fluoride groundwater at Yuncheng Basin, northern China

Hydrogeochemical and environmental isotope methods were integrated to delineate the spatial distribution and enrichment of fluoride in groundwater at Yuncheng Basin in northern China. One hundred groundwater samples and 10 Quaternary sediment samples were collected from the Basin. Over 69% of the shallow groundwater (with a F− concentration of up to 14.1 mg/L), 44% of groundwater samples from the intermediate and 31% from the deep aquifers had F− concentrations above the WHO provisional drinking water guideline of 1.5 mg/L. Groundwater with high F− concentrations displayed a distinctive major ion chemistry: Na-rich and Ca-poor with a high pH value and high HCO3− content. Hydrochemical diagrams and profiles and hydrogen and oxygen isotope compositions indicate that variations in the major ion chemistry and pH are controlled by mineral dissolution, cation exchange and evaporation in the aquifer systems, which are important for F− mobilization as well. Leakage of shallow groundwater and/or evaporite (gypsum and mirabilite) dissolution may be the major sources for F− in groundwater of the intermediate and deep aquifers.