Trace element analysis of selected springs in the Virgin River Ba

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones 5-1996 Trace element analysis of selected springs in the Virgin River Basin Mary A Yelken University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations Part of the Fresh Water Studies Commons, Geology Commons, and the Hydrology Commons Repository Citation Yelken, Mary A., "Trace element analysis of selected springs in the Virgin River Basin" (1996) UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones 1458 http://dx.doi.org/10.34917/3445028 This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s) You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV For more information, please contact digitalscholarship@unlv.edu TRACE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF SELECTED SPRINGS IN THE VIRGIN RIVER BASIN by Mary A Yelken A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Water Resoorces Management Department of Geoscience University ofNevada, Las Vegas May 1996 1l1c thesis of Mary A Yelken for the degree of Master of Science in Water Resources Management is approved Graduate Faculty Representative, Vernon F Hodge, Ph.D Dean ofth~ Graduate College, Dr Ronald W Smith, Ph.D University ofNevada, Las Vegas May 1996 ii ABSTRACT Spring water from 23 springs in and near the Virgin River Basin (southwestern Utah, northwestern Arizona, and southeastern Nevada) was collected and analyzed for field parameters and chemical concentrations Trace element concentrations and major ion chemistry were used to determine the potential for using water chemistry, specifically trace element concentrations, to provide information on spring water source and flow pathways Principal Component Analysis (PCA), rare earth element (REE) normalization patterns, and mineral equihorium modeling (PHREEQE) techniques were used to analyze the data set The PCA analysis grouped spring water with similar chemistries Four major spring water groups were displayed from the analysis of the chemical data set Pah Tempe Hot Springs grouped away from other springs except when the PCA analysis included only REE data Petrified, Blue Point, and Roger's springs formed a consistent group throughout the PCA Clover-UNK, Creeper, and Putting Green springs formed an isolated group only when REE data was a part of the PCA The remainder of the springs clustered together with few subgroups emerging when different combinations of the data -· ·; set were entered into the PCA The analyses suggest that spring water chemical concentrations are a result of interactions with the rocks through which the waters flow The small number of sampling locations relative to the large areal extent of the Virgin River Basin limited the usefulness of the water chemistry to suggest actual spring source iii and flow pathways Although the PCA displayed four major spring water groupings, additional research is warranted in the study area to gain a better understanding of the groundwater flow system iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT iii LIST OF FIGURES LIST OF TABLES viii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ix ACKNOWLEDGMENTS X CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Review of Literature Overview of the Virgin River Basin The Virgin River · Climate History of the Virgin River Basin Demands on the Virgin River Basin 8 11 15 16 CHAPTER2 GEOLOGY Major Geologic Structures Geologic Subdivisions of the Virgin River Basin Upper Virgin River Basin Central Virgin River Basin Lower Virgin River Basin 25 25 25 26 CHAPTER GROUNDWATER Previous Investigations Major Springs Pah Tempe Hot Springs Toquerville Springs Littlefield Springs 28 28 31 31 34 35 CHAPTER METHODOLOGY Field Reconnaissance and Spring Selection Sample Collection Sample Analysis 36 36 37 42 v 19 23 CHAPTER RESULTS OF CHEMICAL ANALYSIS 44 Field Parameters 44 Chemical Concentrations 47 CHAPTER DATA ANALYSIS RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Major Ion Chemistry Principal Component Analysis Resuhs of Principal Component Analysis Rare Earth Element Concentrations Rare Earth Element Normalization PHREEQE Stable Isotopes (oxygen-IS and deuterium) Major Spring Water Groups Roger's, Blue Point, and Petrified Springs Clover Mountain Springs Pah Tempe Hot Springs Majority of Springs in the Study Area 60 60 66 68 79 81 86 92 95 95 98 99 99 CHAPTER CONCLVSION AND SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH 101 APPENDICES Appendix A: Spring Site Geology Appendix B: Spring Site Descriptions Appendix C: Field Reconnaissance Appendix D: Principal Component Analysis Appendix E: Rare Earth Element Normalization 106 107 111 118 122 143 REFERENCES 147 vi LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Figure 2: Figure 3: Figure 4: Figure 5: Figure 6: Figure 7: Figure 8: Figure 9: Figure 10: Figure 11: Figure 12: Figure 13: Figure 14: Figure 15: Figure 16: Figure 17: Figure 18: Figure 19: Figure 20: Figure 21: Figure 22: Figure 23: Figure 24: Figure 25: Figure 26: Figure 27: Figure 28: Figure 29: Figure 30: General Location of Study Area Map of Study Area Location Map for Climatic Data Stations Geologic Diagram of Colorado Plateau and Basin and Range Generalized Stratigraphy from the Lower Virgin River Basin Generalized Stratigraphy of the Upper Virgin River Basin Spring Location Map Piper Diagram: Lower Virgin River Basin Spring Waters Piper Diagram: Upper and Central Virgin River Basin Spring Waters Stiff Diagram: Lower Virgin River Basin Spring Waters StiffDiagram: Upper and Central Virgin River Basin Spring Waters All Chemical Concentrations, All Springs All Chemical Concentrations without Pah Tempe, Petrified, Roger's, and Blue Point Springs 3-D Plot, All Chemical Concentrations without Pah Tempe, Petrified, Roger's, and Blue Point Springs All Trace Elements, All Springs Trace Elements without REE Concentrations All Chemical Concentrations, without Previous Groupings All Trace Element Concentrations without Previous Groupings Selected Trace Elements, All Springs Major Ions, All Springs Selected Trace Elements without Pah Tempe, Petrified, Roger's, and Blue Point Springs REE Normalization Plot Typical of Springs in the Virgin River Basin REE Normalization Plot ofPah Tempe Hot Springs REE Normalization Plot of Clover Mountain Springs REE Normalization Plot ofPetrified, Blue Point, and Roger's Springs Mineral Equilibrium Plot: gypsum vs calcite Mineral Equih'brinm Plot: calcite vs fluorite Mineral Equih'brium Plot: gypsum vs fluorite Mineral Equih'brinm Plot: gypsum vs fluorite (Virgin River water compared to spring waters) Stable Isotope Plot of Spring Waters (oxygen-18 and deuterium) vii 13 20 21 22 32 61 62 63 64 70 70 73 73 74 74 76 76 78 78 83 83 85 85 87 87 88 89 94 LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Table 2: Table 3: Table 4: Table 5: Table 6: Table 7: Table 8: Table 9: Temperature and Precipitation for sites in and near the Virgin River Basin Sample Collection Parameters Field Parameters of Spring Waters and Location of Spring Sites Major Ion Data for Spring Waters Trace Element Concentrations# (without REE) for Spring Waters Trace Element Concentrations# (without REE) for Spring Waters Rare Earth Element Concentrations for Spring Waters Virgin River Sites Stable Isotope Data ( oxygen-18 and deuterium) for Spring Waters viii 14 39 45 49 51 54 57 89 94 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS cfs gpm EC HREE HRC ICP-MS Us LREE MREE PC PCA ppb ppm ppt REE RSD UNLV cubic feet per second gallon per minute Electrical Conductivity Heavy Rare Earth Elements Harry Reid Center for Environmental Studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Inductively-Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Liters per second Light Rare Earth Elements Middle Rare Earth Elements Principal Component Principal Component Analysis parts per billion parts per million parts per trillion Rare Earth Elements Relative Standard Deviation University ofNevada, Las Vegas SJ21iu& Hltwlil AJ:!l!xeviations Petrified Pet LimeKiln Lim Wei Welcome Blue Point Blu Dod Dodge Putting Green Put Juanita Jua Pah Tempe Pah Stout Canyon Sto Sta Stave Toquerville Toq Boilers Government Pahcoon Roger's Big Muddy Creeper Clover-UNK Oak-Low Mtn Grapevine Cascade Falls Menu Falls Oak Grove Camp Boi ix Guv Pcu Rog Mud Crp Clv Oak Grp Cas Men Grv iJr, I Jllli.l!IIJ!Il JJ~I.I!Oillill!lfJJ ~XJ!lil,.,l LL !Jt il!lllliC!J ~ ',, Figure 21 fs59 Eigenvalues (p59.sta) Extraction: Principal components %total Cumul Eigenval Variance Eigenval 4.55809 28.48809 4.55809 3.49545 21.84657 8.05355 2.53072 15.81698 10.58426 9.82169 12.15573 1.57147 Factor scores FACTOR1 FACTOR2 Gov 0.05190 -0.26064 -0.31728 Urn 0.02681 Pen 0.06645 -0.46781 Wei -0.38306 -0.16369 Mud 3.50087 -0.76002 -0.80741 Dod 0.47604 Crp -0.20358 -1.02854 Put -0.03828 -1.40571 -0.82984 Clv 2.18209 Jua 0.08233 0.02958 -0.72431 Oak 0.51663 Grp -0.45521 -0.61617 Sto -0.09105 -0.11510 -0.43972 -0.68278 Cas Sta -0.31963 0.08233 1.61776 Men 2.74965 -0.48475 0.24165 Toq -0.43910 -0.33171 Grv Boi 0.19391 -0.47263 ®,p~lif-~lFJFJIDi.!IILJJ.J U!Fill Fll-Tllr! l-illl Ill UJ iiW ·rs: V 1'flr iiiQIJ lFfiFW'lt'iUililllfJlfQiliLIIIII ':1'",f;r£'1 '··"\*:? - II ]I hij Cumul % 28.48809 50.33466 66.15164 75.97333 ~,-=-,-==' ·';; "f->·"'f.~'!"-'- '>- · :: ""~'"""'"''~""'"""";-,;:::( _,,,_,_