Geochemistry of carbonate precipitation from the groundwater in a coastal region

Groundwater samples were collected from a coastal region of Andhra Pradesh to assess the possible conditions of the formation of carbonates. The area experiences a semi-arid climate and is underlain by khondalites, over which the Quaternary sediments occur. The study of the geochemistry of groundwater indicates that groundwater is mostly of fresh, with alkaline nature. The study further suggest that the breakdown of feldspars as kaolinite during rock-water interaction, releases Ca2+. Soils/weathered products contribute high CO2 under the open system. The Ca2+ and CO2 are added to the groundwater through the infiltrating recharge water. They subsequently precipitate as fine-grained carbonates in the weathering profile due to evapotranspiration under a freshwater environment.