Water-Mineral Equilibria in Solar Salt Farm near Madras, East Coast of India

Abstract

Major element geochemistry of surface brines from a solar salt farm has been studied to understand the geochemical processes occurring. Seasonal variation of major irons and chemistry of the brines are discussed in detail. Ion activity product (IAP) of major ions in these brines and the equilibrium constant (K) for respective mineral phases have been computed to know the state of saturation for some important evaporite minerals. The brine water chemistry is used to predict theoretical mineral assemblages (using standard stability diagrams) expected in the equilibrating sediments.