Hydrogeochemistry of porphyry related solutes in ground and surface waters; an example from the Casino Cu-Au-Mo deposit, Yukon, Canada

The Casino Cu-Au-Mo deposit is one of the largest and highest-grade porphyries of its kind in Canada, residing in an unglaciated region of west central Yukon. A batch of 22 stream water samples and eight groundwater samples were collected proximal to the deposit for the purpose of identifying the most diagnostic trace element and isotopic pathfinders associated with the hydrothermal mineralization, as well as establishing natural hydrogeochemical baselines for the area. Water chemistry around this deposit was investigated because: (i) the deposit has not yet been disturbed by mining; (ii) the deposit was known to have metal-rich waters in local streams; and (iii) the deposit has atypically preserved ore zones. Surface and ground waters around the Casino deposit are anomalous with respect to Cd (up to 5.4 µg/L), Co (up to 64 µg/L), Cu (up to 1657 µg/L), Mo (up to 25 µg/L), As (up to 17 µg/L), Re (up to 0.7 µg/L), and Zn (up to 354 µg/L) concentrations. Sulfur and Sr isotopes are consistent with proximal waters interacting with the Casino rocks and mineralization; a sulfide-rich bedrock sample from the deposit has δ34S = -1.2 ‰ and proximal groundwaters are only slightly heavier (-0.3 to 3.1 ‰). These geochemical and isotopic results indicate interaction and dispersion of porphyry related solutes in ground and surface waters and point to suitability of hydrogeochemistry as a medium for mineral exploration for porphyry-style mineralization in the Yukon, and elsewhere in Canada.Supplementary material: The physicochemical, major, trace, and isotopic data of stream and groundwaters used in this manuscript is publicly available as an Open File Report (OF 8823) from the Geological Survey of Canada.Thematic collection: This article is part of the Hydrochemistry related to exploration and environmental issues collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/hydrochemistry-related-to-exploration-and-environmental-issues

Escherichia coli concentration, multiscale monitoring over the decade 2011–2021 in the Mekong basin, Lao PDR

Bacterial pathogens in surface waters may threaten human health, especially in developing countries, where untreated surface water is often used for domestic needs. The objective of the long-term multiscale monitoring of Escherichia coli concentration in stream water, and that of associated variables (temperature, electrical conductance, dissolved oxygen concentration and saturation, pH, oxidation-reduction potential, turbidity, and total suspended sediment concentration), was to identify the drivers of bacterial dissemination across tropical catchments. This data description paper presents three datasets (see section Data availability) collected at 31 sampling stations located within the Mekong river and its tributaries in Lao PDR (0.6–25,946 km2) from 2011 to 2021. The 1,602 records have been used to describe the hydrological processes driving in-stream Escherichia coli concentration during flood events, to understand land-use impact on bacterial dissemination on small and large catchment scales, to relate stream water quality and diarrhea outbreaks, and to build numerical models. The database may be further used e.g. to interpret new variables measured in the monitored catchments, or to map the health risk posed by fecal pathogens.

Tellus regional stream water geochemistry: environmental and mineral exploration applications

Regional stream water geochemistry acquired as part of the Tellus programme in Ireland has been analysed to assess its potential for application to environmental assessment and mineral exploration. Interpolated geochemical maps and multivariate statistical analysis, including principal component analysis and random forest classification, demonstrate broad geogenic control of stream water chemistry, with both bedrock and subsoil contributing to the patterns observed. Surface water regulations set Environmental Quality Standard values for individual Priority Substances and Specific Pollutants that may depend on background concentrations and/or water hardness. The high resolution of Tellus stream water data and their location on low-order streams have allowed estimation of background concentrations and water hardness in the survey area, with significant implications for water monitoring programmes. Anthropogenic inputs to stream water in the survey area come mainly from agricultural sources and Tellus data suggest few catchments are unaffected. Comparison of Tellus stream water geochemistry with stream sediment and topsoil geochemistry suggest that stream water geochemistry has strong potential for use in mineral exploration, with the same base metal and gold pathfinder anomalies apparent in all three data sets. Cluster analysis indicates that base metals in stream water are associated with organic matter but statistical analysis may be employed to distinguish mineralization-related signatures.Supplementary material: Comparison of cation/anion associations using Piper plots and principal component analysis is available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5683094Thematic collection: This article is part of the Hydrochemistry related to exploration and environmental issues collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/hydrochemistry-related-to-exploration-and-environmental-issues

Nitrate Removal and Woodchip Properties across a Paired Denitrifying Bioreactor Treating Centralized Agricultural Ditch Flows

Treatment of nitrate loads by denitrifying bioreactors in centralized drainage ditches that receive subsurface tile drainage may offer a more effective alternative to end-of-pipe bioreactors. A paired denitrifying bioreactor design, consisting of an in-ditch bioreactor (18.3 × 2.1 × 0.2 m) treating ditch base flow and a diversion bioreactor (4.6 × 9.1 × 0.9 m) designed to treat high-flow events, was designed and constructed in an agricultural watershed (3.2 km2 drainage area) in Illinois, USA. Flow and water chemistry were monitored for three years and the woodchip and bioreactor-associated soil were analyzed for denitrification potential and chemical properties after 25 months. The in-ditch bioreactor did not significantly reduce nitrate concentrations in the ditch, likely due to low hydraulic connectivity with stream water and sedimentation. The diversion bioreactor significantly reduced nitrate concentrations (58% average reduction) but treated only ~2% of annual ditch flow. Denitrification potential was significantly higher in the in-ditch bioreactor woodchips versus the diversion bioreactor after 25 months (2950 ± 580 vs. 620 ± 310 ng N g−1 dry media h−1). The passive flow design was simple to construct and did not restrict flow in the drainage ditch but resulted in low hydraulic exchange, limiting nitrate removal.

Assessing discharge periodicity in mountain catchments using classified environmental conditions (Tatra Mountains, Poland)

The periodicity of a river expressed in cycles of various lengths (monthly, seasonal, multiannual) is a result of climatic factors and overlapping environmental conditions within its catchment. In uncontrolled or poorly surveyed catchments, it is very difficult to determine the duration of a stream’s hydrological activity. This is especially relevant for catchments with complicated water circulation in karstic rocks. The present study concerns the small catchment of the Strązyski Potok river located in the area of the Tatra National Park, in the Western Tatras. The observation period covered the 2015 hydrological year, which differed hydrologically from average conditions. This study aims to develop a simple method to explain the processes shaping the mountain stream discharge periodicity. The research employed periodic field observations linked with climatic and non-climatic factors. Environmental conditions were assessed as four classes reflecting their influence on appearance or disappearance of mountain stream water. Class boundaries were the values of quartiles. The degree of correspondence between environmental factors and stream field observations was described via the Index DC (Degree Correspondence Index) approach. Complete correspondence (Index DC =0) was found in 23% catchments, a weak relationship between conditions favouring discharge and actual condition (Index DC= -1, +1) was noted within 11 catchments, while in 9 catchments, no such relationship was found (Index DC = -2, +2). The obtained results indicate a correspondence or lack thereof between the environmental potential of the catchment and its discharge periodicity. The discrepancies between the assessment of the influence of climatic and non-climatic factors and the data collected during field observations provide a basis for more detailed studies. Continuation of these studies based on the proposed classifications will allow for a more complete explanation of water disappearance in river channels and the determination of their short- and long-term discharge periodicity.