Hydrochemical characterization and source analysis of strontium-rich groundwater in Guinan, Qinghai

Qinghai is situated at the Three Rivers Source, which are collectively known as the Chinese Water Tower. The region boasts an excellent ecological environment, rinking natural mineral water resources are rich.Guinan County, Qinghai Province, is a region with extensive mineral water resources, characterised by high mineral content and low research level. This is a typical area for the study of mineral water resources in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.In order to identify the hydrogeochemical characteristics of strontium-rich groundwater in Guinan County and its evolution process, the test results of different water bodies in the study area were subjected to analysis using a range of techniques, including mathematical statistics, hydrochemical mapping, ion ratio analysis and hydrogeochemical simulation.The results of the study show that the strontium-rich groundwater in Guinan County conforms to the storage and transport law of transforming bedrock fissure water into loose rock pore diving and then into surface water, and the strontium content in the groundwater gradually increases along the runoff pathway.The hydrogeochemical processes of loose rock pore water and surface water are analogous. The hydrochemical types are mainly HCO3-Ca·Mg and HCO3-Ca.The ion content of different geomorphic units varies considerably, with strontium primarily deriving from the dissolution and filtration of sulfate minerals and cation exchange.The hydrochemical type of bedrock fissure water is dominated by the HCO3-Ca·Mg type, with low spatial variability of ionic fractions, and strontium element is mainly derived from weathering and dissolution of carbonate minerals.