Award Date

May 2023

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Geoscience

First Committee Member

Shichun Huang

Second Committee Member

Michael Nicholl

Third Committee Member

Minghua Ren

Fourth Committee Member

Jacimaria Batista

Number of Pages

145

Abstract

Comprehending the natural water resource is imperative for the entire state of Nevada and of particular significance for Southern Nevada, where rapid population growth and climate change are placing significant strain on supplies. This research underscores the significance of water chemistry in identifying potential water source areas through trace elements. For the first time, the study proposed measuring the compositions of the entire suite of metal elements, ranging from Li to U, in over 40 springs in the Moapa Valley and its upper gradient valleys, utilizing the iCAP Qc ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer) at UNLV. The research evaluated correlations between various water samples collected throughout Southern Nevada, focusing on WRFS and many trace element compositions. Various inter-element correlations were observed and will be used to constrain the spring pathways by comparing the spring water metal compositions to those of local bedrock units. The principal component analysis (PCA) was primarily utilized to characterize the spring water sources. The trace element composition may be associated with aquifer material that could be helpful to identify groundwater movement. Additionally, the statistical analysis of the element concentrations revealed any relationship between the element concentrations and the host rock of the study area.

Keywords

Geochemistry; Groundwater; ICP-MS; PCA; Trace Elements; Water Chemistry

Disciplines

Environmental Sciences | Geochemistry | Geology

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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