Salinization Processes in the Benichab Coastal Aquifer-Mauritania

Document pages: 16 pages

Abstract: A comprehensive and detailed study was conducted for the first time in the Benichab Region (western part of Mauritania) unique groundwater resource to identify the main process driving groundwater salinization using major and minor ions together with environmental isotopes. One hundred and nineteen samples were collected from 45 points (dug-wells and boreholes) during the period 2015 to 2017, where physico-chemical, chemical and isotope parameters were analyzed. pH values indicate circumneutral to basic (6.8 to 8.6) values while Electric Conductivity (EC) values show an increasing gradient from fresh groundwater lense (EC