Hydrogeochemical investigation of mineral waters in the city center of Elazig and close vicinity

The aim of this study is to determine the hydrogeochemical properties of mineral waters in Elazig city center and its vicinity, to determine the origin of the waters in the study area, to explain the relationship between the chemical composition of the waters with lithology, to reveal the formation mechanisms and to compare the chemical composition of these waters with various standards for mineral water (drinking purposes) to reveal. Permo - Triassic Keban Metamorphics, Senonian Elazığ Magmatites, Upper Maastrichtian Harami Formation, Middle Eocene - Upper Oligocene aged Kırkgeçit Formation, Miocene - Quaternary aged sediments and volcanic units are present. Mineral waters have been evaluated in terms of their effects on health by conducting analyzes of major anions, cations, some metal concentrations and radioactivity only in a very limited number of studies. In this study, unlike other studies, new mineral water resources were also evaluated and chemical and metal trace element analyzes were carried out from mineral waters in rainy (April 2018) and dry (August 2018) times. In addition, isotope analyzes were performed on water samples taken during the dry period to determine the origin and age of the waters. For the purposes of the study, water samples were taken from mineral waters in rainy and dry periods, and chemical and isotope analyzes were performed. The pH, temperature (T) and electrical conductivity (EC) measurements of the waters were carried out in situ. Water samples for anion and cation analysis were taken in 500 ml polyethylene bottles without any protection. Water samples for metal and trace element analysis are 100 ml polyethylene, sealed bottles; Concentrations of high purity nitric acid (HNO3) were added to prevent possible reactions after sampling. For the isotope analysis of water (2H (deuterium), 3H (tritium), 18O), 1.5 liter plastic bottles were used and the bottles were filled so that no air was left in them and they were prevented from exposure to sunlight. Major anion and cation analyzes, metal and trace element analyzes and isotope analyzes of the waters were performed by appropriate methods in the relevant laboratories. The results of the analysis were evaluated with the help of various graphs and their suitability for drinking was compared with the standards. In the study area, the temperatures of the waters examined in April (2018) ranged between 13.4 ºC and 20.9 ºC, pH values ranged from 5.63 to 7.73, electrical conductivity ranged from 205.6 μS / cm to 7960 μS / cm. In August (2018), water temperatures vary between 14.7 ºC and 24.4 ºC with a pH of 5.66 and 7.4, and electrical conductivity of 209.8 μS / cm to 8340 μS / cm. According to the results of the analysis conducted in April (2018), the hardness of the investigated water was between 13.75 and 468.05; According to the results of the analysis conducted in August (2018), the hardness of the investigated water is between 13.35 and 481.25. It was determined that the water sample M14 was the softest and the water sample M10 was the hardest. The results of chemical analysis of the investigated waters were evaluated with the help of Piper and Scholler diagrams. As a result of these evaluations, the dominant cation in the water is Ca+2 and the dominant anion is HCO3-; In the Piper diagram, it was observed that the waters were grouped in CaCO3 and MgCO3 waters. In Schoeller diagrams, the lines connecting ions are generally parallel to or parallel to each other. This shows that the water is fed from aquifers of similar lithology. According to the results of the isotope analysis carried out during the dry period (August, 2018), the studied waters are of meteoric origin since they are located on and near the meteoric water lines of the Mediterranean and Dalbahçe (Erzurum).