Deciphering the inland salinity of a semi-arid area in North Karnataka

Deciphering the inland salinity of a semi-arid area in North Karnataka | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Deciphering the inland salinity of a semi-arid area in North Karnataka TEJAS MANKIKAR, N NAIDU, SIVASWAMY R, SANGITA BHATTACHARJEE, SUSHANT NAVRAT This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8617843/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study aimed at understanding the reason(s) behind saline groundwater of the study area. Groundwater samples (n = 21) were collected in both Pre-Monsoon and Post-Monsoon seasons from abstraction structures tapping the shallow, unconfined aquifer throughout the study area. Dataset of chemical analyses was utilized to compute Schoeller indices, Gibbs ratios, various inter-ionic ratios viz. non-isotopic approach for narrowing down the source(s) of Sodium and Chloride ions that are dominant amongst cations and anions respectively. Hydrochemical dataset reveals that rock-water interaction dominates the hydrochemical processes and sodium ions have arisen from silicate weathering, mainly Albite plagioclase mineral whereas Chloride ion was a result of weathering of non-Halite, Plagioclase mineral rich rock source. Secondary geochemical data of fluvial sediments was also utilized to understand the parent rock chemistry and alteration of minerals responsible for groundwater salinity. Four indices, namely Plagioclase Index of Alteration, Chemical Index of Alteration, Index of Compositional Variation and K 2 O/Al 2 O 3 ratio were utilized for secondary dataset that reveal initial and moderate alteration of Plagioclase minerals in addition presence of rock forming minerals in parent source and pre-dominance of clay minerals in soil respectively. The dissolved salts in groundwater of the study area have arisen as a result of semi-arid climate, prolonged rock-water interaction and cation exchange processes between aquifer rock(s) and groundwater. Inland salinity Non-isotopic approach Silicate weathering Weathering indices Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files Dataset1.xlsx Dataset2.xlsx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8617843","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":583691241,"identity":"1b79dcb9-ac92-43b6-aae1-3a6fc29a51e1","order_by":0,"name":"TEJAS 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Groundwater samples (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;21) were collected in both Pre-Monsoon and Post-Monsoon seasons from abstraction structures tapping the shallow, unconfined aquifer throughout the study area. Dataset of chemical analyses was utilized to compute Schoeller indices, Gibbs ratios, various inter-ionic ratios viz. non-isotopic approach for narrowing down the source(s) of Sodium and Chloride ions that are dominant amongst cations and anions respectively. Hydrochemical dataset reveals that rock-water interaction dominates the hydrochemical processes and sodium ions have arisen from silicate weathering, mainly Albite plagioclase mineral whereas Chloride ion was a result of weathering of non-Halite, Plagioclase mineral rich rock source. Secondary geochemical data of fluvial sediments was also utilized to understand the parent rock chemistry and alteration of minerals responsible for groundwater salinity. Four indices, namely Plagioclase Index of Alteration, Chemical Index of Alteration, Index of Compositional Variation and K\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO/Al\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e ratio were utilized for secondary dataset that reveal initial and moderate alteration of Plagioclase minerals in addition presence of rock forming minerals in parent source and pre-dominance of clay minerals in soil respectively. 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