Chemical, thermal and isotopic evidences of water mixing in the discharge area of Torrox karst spring (Southern Spain)

Abstract

Time analysis of the chemical, thermal and isotopic characteristics of spring waters was conducted to infer the different flow types feeding the Torrox spring (Teba-Peñarrubia carbonate aquifer, southern Spain). The results suggest that the relatively high mineralized and thermal groundwater drained by the outlet is conditioned by the mixing among recently infiltrated waters through the carbonate outcrops, runoff infiltration in La Venta river and (not yet proved) deep groundwater coming from neighbouring aquifers. This example comprises a hydrogeological characterization of the groundwater discharge in karst aquifers from the analysis of the spring natural responses, which is crucial to understand its functioning and, consequently, to plan a suitable management and protection of karst waters.