156 abstracts: geochemistry 



simplified chemical formula based on groups of constituents and ex- 

 pressed in terms of properties of reaction; a purely chemical water- 

 classification scheme based on the simplified formula; applications of the 

 classification scheme and character formulas to the solution of practical 

 geologic problems. 



The analytical statement is an enumeration of the radicles in terms of 

 reacting values (milligram-equivalents) as well as in parts per million, 

 and these reacting values, when expressed as pecentages of their totality, 

 constitute the general character formula. The radicles are segregated 

 into their natural groups : Alkalies (represented chiefly by sodium and 

 potassium) ; earths (represented chiefly by calcium and magnesium) ; a 

 miscellaneous group of positive radicles represented chiefly by hydrogen, 

 for which the group is named; strong acids (represented chiefly by chlo- 

 ride and sulphate); and weak acids (represented chiefly by carbonate 

 and bicarbonate) . Salinity (saltness) of water is a property such as is 

 caused by the solution of salts of strong acids and alkalinity is a property 

 such as is caused by the solution of salts of weak acids; but these general 

 properties vary in nature in accordance with the proportions of the alkali, 

 earth, and hydrogen groups in thesalts. The simplified formula is, there- 

 fore, a statement (in percent) of the proportional reaction capacity of five 

 special properties, as follows : Primary salinity, salinity such as is caused 

 by the solution of strong-acid salts of the alkali group; secondary salinity, 

 salinity such as is caused by the solution of strong-acid salts of the 

 earths group ; tertiary salinity or persalinity, salinity such as is caused by 

 the solution of strong-acid salts of the hydrogen group; primary alkalin- 

 ity, alkalinity such as is caused by the solution of weak-acid salts of the 

 alkali group; and secondary alkalinity, alkalinity such as is caused by 

 weak-acid salts of the earths group. Secondary salinity is a measure of 

 permanent hardness, secondary alkalinity of temporary hardness, ter- 

 tiary salinity of acidity, primary alkalinity of permanent alkalinity, and 

 primary salinity of saltness in the more popular acceptation of the term. 



The water-classification scheme is based on the proportional reaction 

 capacity of the five groups of radicles, and five classes of water result. 

 The first class is characterized by primary salinity, primary alkalinity, 

 and secondary alkalinity, and is exemplified in general by waters such 

 as Lake Champlain and Oswegatchie River, derived mainly from igne- 

 ous rocks. The second class is characterized by primary salinity and 

 secondary alkalinity and is exemplified by waters such as Shenandoah 

 River, derived from the older limestones. The third class is character- 

 ized by primary salinity, secondary salinity, and secondary alkalinity, 

 and is exemplified by waters such as Miami and Maumee rivers, derived 



