Experimental Study of Evolution of Aqueous SiO2 in the Mineral Water in Basalt Beds of Jingyu County, China

The mineral water in Jingyu County, Jilin Province of China, was selected as the research target. Laboratory water- basalt interaction experiments were conducted to investigate the concentrations and rate of release of aqueous SiO2, a characteristic component in the mineral water from this region. Results show that the release of SiO2 from water-rock interactions conform to a log-log curve law. In 155-day experiments, the amount of SiO2 released from the basalt powder is 138-196 mg/kg, and that from basalt blocks is lower at 46.2-62.6 mg/kg. The pH values tend to be neutral. The electrical conductivity of aqueous solutions tends to increase gradually. The release rate of SiO2 is basically constant at about 0.04-0.14 mg/kg.d after 155 days. The released silica concentrations and rates are functions of rock texture, rock surface area, and reaction time.