Contribution to the geochemistry of groundwater in Northern Germany

Abstract

Moderately saline groundwaters, which are still usable for drinking and industrial purposes, occur in Northern Germany until depths of approximately 500 meters below the surface. Apart from local saline water intrusions along the North Sea coast and rivers, the saline components of groundwater are derived from deep groundwaters, which can be related to salt bodies mainly of Zechstein age. Sulfate waters are found in the immediate vicinity of salt domes. In contrast chloride salt waters and brines are also found further away from the salt bodies, and show indications of reduction and base-exchange. The relationships of the groundwater types toward each other should be clarified by means of isotope research. A chemical classification of groundwater has been proposed, which bears in mind the absolute as well as the relative contents of main ions (fig. 2).