Effects of pH, alkalinity and bedrock chemistry on metal concentrations of springs in an acidified catchment (Ecker Dam, Harz Mountains, FRG)

Thirty-four springs were sampled on five different source rocks in the upper Ecker watershed of the Northern Harz Mountains (Germany) four times during the course of 1995. The analyses included 41 cations and the major anions. Approximately 90% of the rocks in the upper Ecker watershed are low in basic cations, which inhibit the neutralisation of hydrogen-ion loading. As a consequence, the concentrations of Al, Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, Y, Ce, As, La, Nd, Cd, Be, Co, Sb, Pr, Gd, Dy, Yb, Er, Sm, U, Tl, Ho and Tb of the Ecker dam water (pH=5.1) exceed those of the nearby Söse Dam water (pH=6.5) by almost one order of magnitude or more. With the exception of the spring waters on gabbro (pH up to 7.7) all waters on the highly siliceous rocks (quartzite, granite and gneiss) are dominated by sulfate anions with a pH range of 4–6. The concentrations of major conservative ions show a progressive increase with decreasing catchment elevation and decreasing average precipitation. Trace elements such as Sr, Be, Zn, Cd, Ba, Y, La, lanthanides, U, Li, Ni, Al, Mn, Co, Cu, Pb, As, Sb and Tl are increased in the low acid neutralizing capacity (ANC(aq)) spring waters. The behaviours of Sr, Be, Zn, Cd, Ba, Y, La, lanthanides and U resemble that of the major cations. The highest concentrations of Li and Ni are found on quartzite. Al, Mn, Co and Cu exhibit no clear correlation with catchment elevation and one particular bedrock. The concentrations of V and Cr show a distinct increase in high ANC(aq) spring waters on gabbro. Pb, As, Sb and Tl are characterized by being found in relatively high concentrations on granite at higher altitudes. Pb, As and Sb are affected by contaminated soils. The extreme variability of trace element concentrations of low ANC(aq) spring waters cannot be explained by the rock data. It is mainly controlled by the topography-dependent weathering rates of the different rock-types and the decreasing dilution with decreasing catchment elevation.