GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF RIVER DANUBE FROM CERNAVODA AREA

Claudia Sandru^*, Elena David

National Research and Development Institute for Cryogenics and Isotopic Technologies - ICIT Rm. Valcea, code 240050 - Rm. Valcea,

Uzinei 4, CP7 Raureni, Valcea, Romania

ABSTRACT

               The Danube played a vital role in the settlement and political evolution of central and southeastern Europe, which is an important water source for irrigation and drinking in Romania. Twelve representative samples were collected from the river Danube from Cernavoda Area . These samples were chemically analyzed for major cations and anions in order to understand the different geochemical processes affecting the surfacewater quality. Piper plot of the collected samples indicates that Na and K exceed Ca and Mg in most samples, whereas Cl and SO₄ are the dominant anions. CO₃^2- is the predominant anion in samples, indicating the effect of dissolution of carbonate minerals in the soil and silicates in the aquifer matrix.

KEYWORDS: surfacewater quality, geochemical characterization, Piper plot