Similarities in the chemical composition of carbonate groundwaters and seawater

Fifty-four elements were quantified in spring waters emanating from carbonate rock in Ash Meadows, in southern Nevada, and in Death Valley, CA. The results show th at the concentrations of ma ny of the trace elements found in these groundwaters are remarkably close to those found in modern seawater. The concentrations of 26 of the elements in the spring waters and seawater are within a factor of 2; 14 more are within a factor of 10; 8 elements are enriched in the groundwater by more than a factor of 10; and 6 elements are depleted by more than a factor of 10. Similarities in the trace chemical composition of ancient seawater and modern seawater can be inferred from the fingerprint of trace elements found in these carbonate rock-source spring waters.