Investigation of zr, hf and ree behaviors in alkali lakes and thermal waters around Van, Turkey

In this study, Zr, Hf and NTE behaviors during natural solid-liquid interaction on alkaline lakes and hydrothermal water sources around Van Lake were investigated. Major anion and cation contents, Zr, Hf, trace and rare earth element concentrations and their physicochemical parameters of alkaline lakes and thermal waters were measured. It was determined which rare earth elements enriched in these waters by determining Zr / Hf and Y/Ho, Ce/Ce*, Eu/Eu*, Pr/Pr* ratios and LREE, MREE and HREE values for both lake water and thermal springs. Thermodynamic PHREEQC calculations taking into account the formation conditions in the study area indicated that the dissolved REE specification was governed by carbonate complexes. The most important species in the alkaline lake waters were [REE(CO3)2]- and the most common complex in acidic thermal waters was [REE (CO3)]+. In acidic thermal waters, thermodynamic PHREEQC calculations showed that the Eu3+ aqueous specification was carbonate [Eu (CO3)]+ and mixed hydroxyl carbonate [Eu(OH)CO3], consistent with the indicators of previous studies. Keywords: Zr, Hf, Rare Earth Element (REE), lake water, Thermal water, Van, Turkey