Pleistocene age paleo-groundwater inferred from water-stable isotope values in the central part of the Baltic Artesian Basin

ABSTRACT

A new data set of δ²H and δ¹⁸O in the groundwater from the central part of the Baltic Artesian Basin is presented. The hydrogeological section is subdivided into stagnation, slow exchange and active exchange zones. Na–Ca–Cl brine found at the deepest part – the stagnation zone – is characterized by δ¹⁸O values above −5 ‰ and δ²H values approaching −40 ‰ with respect to Vienna Standard Mean Ocean Water. The slow exchange zone where waters of mostly intermediate salinity reside is characterized by δ¹⁸O values around −11.7 ‰ and δ²H values around −85.3 ‰. Mean δ¹⁸O and δ²H values of the fresh groundwater in the active water exchange zone are −11.1 and −79.9 ‰, respectively. Characteristically, the groundwater in the active and slow exchange zone is isotopically more depleted compared with the precipitation values observed, and the depletion increases with depth down to the level where strongly enriched brines are encountered.

KEYWORDS:

• Baltic Artesian Basin
• brines
• d-excess
• groundwater development
• hydrogen-2
• isotope hydrology
• Latvia
• oxygen-18
• palaeohydrogeology

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the European Regional Development Fund (Project No. 1013/00542DP/2.1.1.1.0/13/APIA/VIAA/007), the European Social Fund (Project No. 2009/0212/1DP/1.1.1.2.0/09/APIA/VIAA/060) and Mobilitas [grant number MJD309] and by the Estonian Science Foundation [grant number 8948] to Rein Vaikmäe. The paper is a contribution to the ERC IUT19-22 Project and to the INQUA/UNESCO-supported G@GPS Project.