Origin of Groundwater Salinity in the Draa Sfar Polymetallic Mine Area Using Conservative Elements (Morocco)

In the Marrakech region of Morocco, where water resources are particularly limited, excessive salinity has been measured in from some wells intended for human consumption and irrigation. Moreover, start-up a mine exploitation polymetallic sulfide deposit progress work have revealed existence very saline deep groundwater with total mineralization over 80 g/L. The hydrogeochemical study using conservative elements helped to understand origin Draa Sfar assess contribution source high salinities observed mine. shallow aquifer shows almost constant Br?/Cl? Na+/Cl? ratios, independent chloride content. ratios these indicate single autochthonous Cl?, Br? Na+, is diluted by recharge containing low concentrations elements. Regarding groundwater, Li+/Cl? ratio range on leachates rocks extracted that pore reservoir dissolved mine’s results mixture between waters fresh meteoric seeps surface recharges entire aquifer. This porewater would be remnant hydrothermal fluids formed deposit.