Lmst

#MineWater

A slightly tongue-in-cheek AI animation of a conceptual model showing leakage of highly mineralized mine waters into a carbonate aquifer:
https://youtu.be/WDIze8QNMYs

Yes - it’s simplified. Yes - real systems are messier.
But sometimes a "clean" visual helps to communicate density-driven flow and reactive processes more intuitively than 20 pages of equations.

The animation idea emerged while working on my monograph. Draft versions are available here:
https://zenodo.org/records/16741148

Engineering humor is allowed - even in hydrogeochemistry 😁

#Hydrogeochemistry #Groundwater #MineWater #ReactiveTransport #CarbonateAquifer #PHREEQC #AIinScience #Geoscience #SvystunovaGully

How reliable are dilution estimates in contaminated aquifers?

In my current monograph, I validated the dilution coefficient using two fully independent approaches:
- chloride concentrations as a conservative tracer
- solution density calculated in PHREEQC (Laliberté–Cooper model)

I then performed a robust statistical comparison of both dilution estimates (n ≈ 2000).
The result: no statistically significant difference between the two methods (Mann–Whitney test), with very close median values and negligible effect size.

❗What does this mean in practice?
It confirms that density-based calculations — often ignored in groundwater contamination studies — provide robust, independent validation of classical tracer-based approaches.
This is especially important for highly mineralized mine waters, where density-driven processes (e.g. buoyancy effects, Rayleigh–Taylor instability) can critically affect plume behavior.

#Groundwater #Geochemistry #PHREEQC #MineWater #Hydrogeology #RStats #SvystunovaGully

Comparison of dilution coefficients calculated using two independent methods:
chloride concentrations as a conservative tracer and solution density computed in PHREEQC (Laliberté–Cooper model).
The distributions show no statistically significant difference (Mann–Whitney U test), with closely matching median values and negligible effect size, confirming the robustness and mutual consistency of both approaches.

Thousands of studies describe Rayleigh–Taylor instability, and most hydrogeological models acknowledge its importance in contaminant transport.

However, in studies of the Svystunova gully mine-water storage pond, I have not seen density explicitly accounted for — despite highly mineralized waters where this factor can fundamentally change plume behaviour.
By calculating solution density within the contamination halo, I demonstrated a real risk of gravity-driven sinking of the contamination plume to the base of the aquifer. This finding adds a critical dimension to impact assessment and is now documented as a standalone section in my ongoing report.

If you work with mine water, aquifers contamination, or long-term contamination modelling, this is a parameter worth revisiting.

#Hydrogeochemistry #Groundwater #MineWater #PHREEQC #RStats #QGIS #EnvironmentalRisk #Contamination #RiskAnalysis #SvystunovaGully

Water density values across the contaminated aquifer.

#SvystunovaGully
888 downloads!
Looks like I’ve created something that people actually find interesting.

But here’s the real question: with a daily rate of 30–40 downloads... what are the odds of catching such a perfectly round number by accident? 🤣

(Maybe the Universe has a soft spot for hydrogeochemistry!) 😁

#OpenScience #Zenodo #Geochemistry #Hydrogeology #MineWater #DataScience #ResearchLife #ScienceHumor #Groundwater #EnvironmentalScience #Contamination #PHREEQC #RStats #LaTeX #QGIS #FOSS #WaterPollution

In my study of the highly mineralized mine-water storage impoundment in #SvystunovaGully , I used PHREEQC to quantify the equilibrium dissolution potential of calcite for every of >1000 groundwater sample collected over more than 10 years.

For each sample, I modeled how much calcite the water could dissolve if it encountered carbonate rocks along its flow path (SI = 0 at equilibrium). Each sample was treated as an independent thermodynamic system, and the resulting dissolution values were aggregated spatially using Voronoi polygons.

The map below shows the median Δmass of calcite (g/L) for each polygon.
Areas with more negative values represent water that remains capable of dissolving additional carbonate minerals — a long-term indicator of the water’s aggressiveness.

This approach highlights the zones where the aquifer is most vulnerable to carbonate dissolution around the mine-water pond.

#Hydrogeology #Geochemistry #PHREEQC #Groundwater #MineWater #GIS #RStats #Hydrochemistry #OpenScience #Ukraine

Map of median calcite dissolution potential (Δmass, g/L) calculated for groundwater around the mine-water storage in #SvystunovaGully near Kryvyi Rih. Colors show Voronoi polygons: green = low dissolution potential, red = high aggressiveness. Based on >1000 PHREEQC equilibrium simulations for samples collected over 10+ years.

In my research on the impoundment for highly mineralized mine water, I identified two distinct zones of carbonate mineral dissolution within the underlying carbonate aquifer.

The inner zone is caused by the primary aggressiveness of the mine water toward carbonates.

The outer zone appears after the leaking water has almost reached equilibrium with carbonate minerals — and its behaviour closely resembles freshwater–seawater mixing dissolution.

On the figure, outer zone (III) is marked by the sharp drop in the calcite saturation index.

The crucial point is this:
👉 The outer dissolution zone (III) creates enhanced pathways for further migration of mine water through the aquifer.
❗ It behaves like a positive-feedback system, progressively increasing its own permeability.

All details, and modelling results are documented in the latest draft of my monograph (v0.75):
🔗 https://zenodo.org/records/16741148

#Geochemistry #Rstats #MixingCorrosion #PHREEQC #SvystunovaGully #Contamimation #Groundwater #Thermodynamics #MineWater

Calcite saturation index vs. mixing coefficient for groundwater affected by leakage from the mine-water impoundment.
Zones I–IV represent distinct hydrogeochemical regimes; the sharp decline in zone III marks the onset of the secondary (outer) dissolution zone that enhances pathways for further mine-water migration.

📘 A small milestone for my independent research project

I’m honestly a bit shocked.
When I published the first version of my hydrogeochemical monograph on May 27 (v0.72), and then the updated version on August 4 (v0.75), I expected almost no reactions at all.

Today, the combined statistics on Zenodo show:
- 1,400 downloads
- almost 3,000 views

For a niche, highly technical, openly accessible monograph created by one person — this is far beyond anything I imagined.

Thank you to everyone who found the work useful enough to download, save, or read it.
Your interest is the only reason this project keeps growing.

#Geochemistry #Hydrogeology #MineWater #PHREEQC #EnvironmentalGeochemistry #Groundwater #Metasomatism #RStats #QGIS #OpenScience #IndependentResearch #SvystunovaGully #KryvyiRih #WaterPollution #Contamination #Mining #Zenodo

(Full Zenodo record — in the ALT of the second image, for anyone interested.)

Title page of the monograph published on Zenodo (https://zenodo.org/records/16741148)

🌊 Modeling a potential dam breach — and how panic spread beyond the real watershed

This project assessed the potential consequences of a dam failure at a mine-water impoundment in the Svystunova Gully.

🔹 Reconstructed the original pre-impoundment terrain from archival topographic maps.
🔹 Used Sentinel-based land-cover classification to assign variable Manning’s roughness coefficients.
🔹 Built a modern DEM including the dam structure and current flooded zone.
🔹 Simulated dam-break flood dynamics in GRASS GIS — frame by frame.
🔹 Produced a video visualization to help local communities understand real risks (and ignore fake ones).
🔹 The results were later featured in regional media and used in discussions about mine-water safety.

🎥 Watch the short video visualization:
🔗 https://youtu.be/JTcCLXqvWlE?si=NS7ly7UAZu1XttWy

#Hydrology #DamSafety #GIS #GRASSGIS #MineWater #HydrodynamicModeling #GeospatialAnalysis #EnvironmentalRisk #OpenScience #IndependentResearch #SvystunovaGully

🧪 Mine water + fresh water ≠ simple average

When high mineralized mine waters mix with fresh groundwater, mineral reactions don’t behave linearly.

The graphs below show how saturation indices for selected minerals respond to dilution:
🔹 Copper sulfates (Antlerite, Brochantite, Langite) display clear peaks and drops.
🔹 Gypsum remains undersaturated — yet falls sharply at high dilution.

Each “dip” or “window” reflects a short-lived equilibrium where new mineral phases may form or dissolve — revealing the hidden dynamics of technogenic metasomatism in aquifer systems.

📖 Draft monograph (v0.75) available on Zenodo:
🔗 https://zenodo.org/records/16741148

Four scatter plots showing changes in mineral saturation indices (Antlerite, Brochantite, Gypsum, Langite) versus mixing coefficient between mine and fresh waters. Each graph includes hundreds of data points and a smooth trend line. Copper sulfates display strong non-linear peaks and drops, while gypsum remains slightly undersaturated across all dilution levels.

💧 Aggressive groundwater and the long memory of contamination

Even after more than a decade of monitoring, the groundwater in this carbonate aquifer remains undersaturated with respect to calcite — consistently showing negative SI values across nearly all observation wells.

This means that the system is still chemically aggressive toward limestone, slowly dissolving the host rock.
The impoundment, operating since 1976, continues to influence the aquifer — with the geometry of possible subsurface voids still uncertain to this day.

📘 All supporting data and modeling results are included in the draft monograph:
🔗 https://zenodo.org/records/16741148

🧪 Data & visualization: PHREEQC + R + QGIS

#Hydrogeochemistry #Geochemistry #MineWater #Groundwater #PHREEQC #EnvironmentalGeoscience #IndependentResearch #OpenScience #QGIS #RStats #Aquifer #Zenodo #SvystunovaGully #GroundwaterContamination #FOSS

Table showing descriptive statistics of calcite saturation index (SI) in groundwater from observation wells near the impoundment. Median SI values are negative for all sites, confirming undersaturation.

Map of spatial distribution of median calcite saturation index in the carbonate aquifer. Red zones indicate strongest undersaturation (SI < –5), while light yellow marks areas closer to equilibrium.

🔍 Exploring groundwater chemistry — from ions to equilibrium

This ternary diagram shows how groundwater samples affected by mine water vary in anion composition. Each point represents one sample, colored by its calcite saturation index (SI) from PHREEQC calculations.

Such early-stage exploration helps reveal subtle geochemical trends — where equilibrium breaks down, reactions intensify, and contamination fronts begin to form.

🧪 Data exploration: PHREEQC + R

#Geochemistry #Hydrogeology #MineWater #Groundwater #PHREEQC #DataExploration #EnvironmentalGeochemistry #GeochemicalModeling #DataVisualization #RStats #OpenScience #SvystunovaGully

Ternary diagram showing the relative proportions of carbonate (C +4), sulfate (S +6), and chloride (Cl⁻) ions in groundwater samples from a mine-impacted area. Each point is colored by calcite saturation index (SI), with cooler colors indicating undersaturation and warmer colors approaching equilibrium.

💧 Beyond Diffusion: Groundwater as a Rock–Fluid System

Contaminant plumes in groundwater are often seen as passive — just diffusion and advection through porous media.
But what if we treat them as active geochemical fronts instead?

In my recent modeling work, I describe contamination not as a mechanical process, but as a metasomatic transformation — a reaction zone between aggressive mine waters and carbonate aquifers.

Each sector of the aquifer develops its own thermodynamic balance and mineral stability field.
The plume itself becomes a chemical engine — reshaping host rocks, opening new pathways, and shifting the entire water–rock equilibrium.

📘 Draft monograph: https://zenodo.org/records/16741148

🧪 Data and modeling: PHREEQC + R + QGIS

#Geochemistry #Hydrogeology #MineWater #WaterPollution #PHREEQC #Metasomatism #Groundwater #EnvironmentalGeochemistry #IndependentResearch #OpenScience #Aquifer #RStats #FOSS #SvystunovaGully

Map showing spatial distribution of modeled calcite mass change (Δm, g/L) within the carbonate aquifer around the Svystunova Gully. Green zones indicate areas of near-equilibrium, while red polygons show zones of strong mineral dissolution associated with inflow of high mineralized mine water.

🌎 Mapping dominant chemical speciation in a polluted carbonate aquifer

In my recent modeling work, I modeled the dominant forms of element speciation in groundwater within a carbonate system.

Beyond pure geochemical curiosity, this approach provides a practical lens:
– it reveals where mineral precipitation is most probable,
– and helps identify zones where remediation can be most effective.

💻 Combining thermodynamic modeling (PHREEQC) with spatial analysis in R and QGIS turns subsurface processes into actionable insights for water-quality management and contamination mitigation.

Two figures below show the modeled distribution of cadmium species across the aquifer and their evolution with dilution

📘 Full details in the draft monograph:
🔗 https://zenodo.org/records/16741148

#Geochemistry #Hydrogeology #PHREEQC #GroundwaterContamination #MineWater #EnvironmentalGeochemistry #Metasomatism #Aquifer #RStats #QGIS #GeospatialAnalysis #OpenScience #IndependentResearch #WaterQuality #Remediation #SvystunovaGully

Map of monitoring wells within the carbonate aquifer near the Svystunova Gully impoundment, showing dominant cadmium species by Voronoi polygons.
Three main zones are identified:
– Cd²⁺ (violet) — in the south, near the inflow of less saline waters;
– CdCl⁺ (brown) — dominant across most of the area;
– CdCl₂ (blue) — concentrated near the central wells (most polluted zone).
The map visualizes modeled geochemical speciation patterns.

Scatter plot showing changes in relative activity of cadmium species as a function of dilution coefficient.
The dominant aqueous species (CdCl⁺, CdCl₂, Cd²⁺, CdCl₃⁻, CdSO₄) are plotted as colored points with smoothed trend lines.
The diagram illustrates a gradual shift from complexed chloride forms (CdCl⁺, CdCl₂) toward free Cd²⁺ ions as the solution becomes more diluted.

🔬 Metasomatic Zonation as a Model of Groundwater Contamination

One of the key theoretical bases in my research is the classical metasomatic zonation model (Korzhinskii, 1960s).

I interpret the contamination halo formed by mine waters not as passive dispersion — but as an active metasomatic system, where aggressive fluids drive alteration and re-precipitation reactions within the carbonate aquifer.

Highly mineralized mine waters create a complex interaction front.
Thermodynamic modeling (based on well-monitoring data) allows identification of several geochemical zones partly analogous to Korzhinskii’s metasomatic sequence.

📊 The image shows my preliminary zoning concept.

📘 All calculations and hypotheses are detailed in the draft monograph:
🔗 https://zenodo.org/records/16741148

#Geochemistry #Hydrogeology #PHREEQC #Metasomatism #MineWater #GroundwaterContamination #GeochemicalModeling #IndependentResearch #OpenScience #RStats #QGIS #EnvironmentalGeochemistry #Thermodynamics #Aquifer #Zenodo #SvystunovaGully

Diagram showing calcite saturation index (SI) profiles within a carbonate aquifer affected by mine-water inflow. The figure illustrates several proposed geochemical zones — from undersaturated inflow waters through transition and buffering zones to oversaturated and re-precipitation zones near equilibrium. Based on PHREEQC thermodynamic modeling and field monitoring data.

💧 Exploring how contaminated mine waters behave in a carbonate aquifer — through the lens of metasomatic zoning and thermodynamic #geochemical modeling.

Using #PHREEQC simulations, data analysis in #RStats, and geospatial visualization in #QGIS, I’m studying how mine drainage transforms groundwater systems and mineral equilibria over time.

📘 The draft version (v0.75) of my monograph on this topic has already been downloaded 550+ times on #Zenodo — showing how relevant this issue has become for both science and environmental policy.

It’s independent research that links theory, modeling, and practical hydrogeochemical assessment — focused on the long-term impact of mine waters in the Kryvyi Rih region.

🔗 Read or download:
https://zenodo.org/records/16741148

#Geochemistry #Groundwater #MineWater #EnvironmentalGeochemistry #Hydrogeology #WaterPollution #Metasomatism #OpenScience #IndependentResearch #EnvironmentalDataScience #Aquifer #HeavyMetals #Sustainability #SvystunovaGully

Title page of my independent geochemical monograph (v0.75, Zenodo). The study investigates mine-water contamination processes in a carbonate aquifer using PHREEQC-based thermodynamic modeling, supported by R and QGIS geospatial analysis.

Here our newest publication on #PolychlorinatedBiphenyls discharge to the environment. We show that #MineWater effluents are a current #PointSource of PCB to rivers.

We provide concentrations of 53 #PCBs, annual loads, and #congener patterns for five mines.

Lower-chlorinated congeners occur in highest concentrations, not the six indicator PCBs.

Single congener concentrations (pg-ng/L range) sum up to loads of 0.1-0.7 kg/a per mine due to high water volumes.

#MineWater

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