Origin and evolution of two contrasting thermal groundwaters (CO₂-rich and alkaline) in the Jungwon area, South Korea: Hydrochemical and isotopic evidence

In the Jungwon area, South Korea, two contrasting types of deep thermal groundwater (around 20-33 °C) occur together in granite. Compared to shallow groundwater and surface water, thermal groundwaters have significantly lower δ¹⁸O and δD values (> 1‰ lower in δ¹⁸O) and negligible tritium content (mostly < 2 TU), suggesting a relatively high age of these waters (at least pre-thermonuclear period) and relatively long subsurface circulation. However, the hydrochemical evolution yielded two distinct water types. CO₂-rich water (P_CO2 = 0.1 to 2 atm) is characterized by lower pH (5.7-6.4) and higher TDS content (up to 3300 mg/L), whereas alkaline water (P_CO2 = 10^{- 4.1}-10^{- 4.6} atm) has higher pH (9.1-9.5) and lower TDS (< 254 mg/L). Carbon isotope data indicate that the CO₂-rich water is influenced by a local supply of deep CO₂ (potentially, magmatic), which enhanced dissolution of silicate minerals in surrounding rocks and resulted in elevated concentrations of Ca²⁺, Na⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, HCO₃^- and silica under lower pH conditions. In contrast, the evolution of the alkaline water was characterized by a lesser degree of water-rock (granite) interaction under the negligible inflow of CO₂. The application of chemical thermometers indicates that the alkaline water represents partially equilibrated waters coming from a geothermal reservoir with a temperature of about 40 °C, while the immature characteristics of the CO₂-rich water resulted from the input of CO₂ in Na-HCO₃ waters and subsequent rock leaching.