Mineralized springs within the Lampasas Cut Plain were assessed to determine the relative fluid paths of groundwater flow within the karstic aquifer of the region and evaluate the source of geochemical groundwater constituents.  Based on physicochemical analyses coupled with major cation / anion and isotope analyses, these unique springs represent localized discharge features of a deep, hypogene karst system.  Elevated levels of iron and zinc suggest sulfide mineralized zones in Cambrian and Ordovician strata are the source regions of geochemical constituents within these anomalous springs.  Isotopic analyses indicate that waters are not derived from connate sources, but instead are part of a deep flow system with groundwater residence times exceeding 70 years; however, there appears to be minimal mixing with shallow epigene karst systems at some springs sites adding to aquifer complexity.  Current studies indicate that these springs are largely decoupled from surficial processes and are threatened groundwater systems that have the potential to become severely impacted by groundwater overpumping, because recharge time spans long exceed management practices within the region.  Groundwater abstraction, based on the results of this study, should be treated as groundwater mining for the purposes of water resource management and not considered a renewable resource within the frame of conservation practices.

Texas hill country mineral springs: Origins and water quality

247th National Meeting (2014)

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