JavaScript requeired.
Geochemical Journal
Geochemical Journal An open access journal for geochemistry
subscription
Published for geochemistry community from Geochemical Society of Japan.

Calcium-sulfate rich water in landslide area of Tateyama Caldera, northern central Japan

YUKI SATO, MASAHIRO KOMETANI, HIROSHI SATAKE, TAMOTSU NOZAKI, MINORU KUSAKABE
Geochemical Journal, Vol. 47, No. 6, P. 609-623, 2013

ABSTRACT

Chemistry of surface waters from the Tateyama caldera known as a site of frequent landslides in northern central Japan was investigated to obtain the relationship between their geochemical characteristics and the landslide density in the watershed. Most waters in the caldera have water chemistry of a Ca–SO4 type with high total ionic concentrations. Stream waters originating from the landslide areas have notably high sulfate concentration. Dissolution of rock-forming minerals such as plagioclase by sulfuric acid produced by oxidation of hydrothermal pyrite that was formed during alteration of volcanic rocks is responsible for the high calcium and sulfate concentration. The δ34S values of dissolved sulfate in the surface waters support this view. Intense rock weathering at the head areas of sulfate-rich streams is likely to have caused the 1964 large-scale landslide there. Positive correlation between SO42− concentration in the streams and a ratio of landslide area to the catchment area indicates a high probability of landslide in the area where SO42− concentration in water is high. Hydrogeochemical information at landslide areas has a potential of identifying the area of future landslide.

KEYWORDS

water geochemistry, Tateyama caldera, Ca–SO4 type water, landslide, sulfur isotopes

All Issues

Current Issue:
Stats:
Impact Factor: 1.0 (2023)
Submission to final decision: 9.6 weeks (2022)
Geochemical Society of Japan

page top