Abstract: Ground Water Geochemistry of the Indian Wells Valley, Kern County, California

B. D. Houghton, G. D. Thyne, R. A. Horton Jr.

Ground water in the shallow unconfined aquifer in the Indian Wells Valley can be divided geographically into three areas based on hydrogeochemistry. Ground water in the southwest and southern portions of the valley has low total dissolved solids (TDS) and a sodium-bicarbonate composition. Ground water in the west and northwest also has a sodium-bicarbonate composition, but tends to have higher TDS. Ground waters in the east and central portions of the valley are predominantly sodium-chloride in composition and have higher TDS than ground water in the other areas of the valley.

Ground water in the west and northwest does not appear to be hydraulically connected to ground water in the other areas of the valley. The ground water in this area may have several sources of recharge, whereas the ground water in the south and southwest may only have one major source. Southwest ground water may be hydraulically connected to the high TDS ground water in the central and eastern portions of the valley.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90958©1995 AAPG Pacific Section Meeting, San Francisco, California