Water-rock interaction and the water chemistry of a small Sierra Nevada lake

The interaction of water of initial PH 4, 5, and 7 with ground minerals typically present in a granite or granodiorite plus rock samples taken from the drainage of a small California Sierra Nevada lake was studied. The dissolution of metal ions and the change in PH as a function of time was monitored. The PH and metal ion concentrations thus determined were those that would be expected from the weathering and dissolution of the minerals present in the rocks of the drainage. Furthermore, they were consistent with measurements previously taken by Stoddard (1987) of the composition of the lake water at various times of the year.