Table 1 Physico-chemical and biological characteristics of the fissure water in Kopanang-Vaal and Zondereinde-Bierspruit. (mg/L unless otherwise stated), CFU: colony forming unit. BDL: below detection limit. ND: not determined, NA: not applicable. Control samples is treated mine water used for cooling equipment and drinking water.
From: New ecosystems in the deep subsurface follow the flow of water driven by geological activity
Kopanang | Vaal | Zondereinde | Bierspruit | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Depth | −1.4 | NA | −1.7 | NA | ||
Flow rate (L/min.) | 3.15 | NA | 8 | NA | ||
Sample size (L) | 3,865,654 | 15 | 8640 | 4.5 | ||
14C age | <1 to 2768(4) | NA | 5798(1) | NA | ||
3H age | 7–10 yr(4) | NA | NA | NA | ||
Microbial cells/litre | <103 | 1.4 × 107 | 2 × 105 | 2.2x106 | ||
Planktonic | ||||||
T(°C) | 31.3 | 18.6 | 45.3 | 20.8 | ||
pH | 8.15 | 8.37 | 9.3 | 8.34 | ||
EC (mS/m) | 47.9 | 58.1 | 130 | 156 | ||
TDS (ppm) | 370 | 397 | 650 | 966.46 | ||
O2d | 0.1(M) | 23(µM) | 0.3(M) | 24(µM) | ||
TOC | 2.54 | 3.41 | 8.8 | 19.78 | ||
DOC | 0.9 | 3.92 | 3.6 | 7.49 | ||
Al3+ | 0.054 | 0.090 | 0.25 | <0.004 | ||
Ba2+ | 0.040 | 0.027 | 0.04 | 0.020 | ||
Ca2+ | 47.9 | 58.1 | 13.3 | 39.91 | ||
Cd2+ | bdl | bdl | bdl | bdl | ||
Cl− | 16.5 | 53.4 | 76.1 | 26.9 | ||
Cr2+ | <0.006 | <0.006 | 0.005 | 0.006 | ||
Cu+ | 0.006 | 0.008 | 0.003 | 0.005 | ||
Fetotal | 0.005 | 0.023 | 0.0234 | 0.017 | ||
Mg2+ | 0.76 | 18.80 | 3.6 | 69.83 | ||
Mn2+ | 0.015 | 0.015 | 0.27 | 0.007 | ||
Mo2+ | <0.003 | <0.003 | 0.005 | <0.003 | ||
Na+ | 111.3 | 48.83 | 228 | 173.02 | ||
Ni2+ | <0.010 | <0.010 | <0.010 | <0.010 | ||
K+ | 0.74 | 7.83 | 7.14 | 2.92 | ||
Si4+ | 8.717 | 1.061 | 10.2 | 2.796 | ||
Sr2+ | 0.046 | 0.085 | 0.9 | 0.044 | ||
V3+ | <0.006 | <0.006 | <0.006 | <0.006 | ||
Zn2+ | 0.023 | 0.014 | 0.018 | 0.016 | ||
F− | 0.25 | 0.22 | 0.38 | 0.78 | ||
NO2− | bdl | bdl | 0.083 | bdl | ||
Br− | 0.0468 | 0.0914 | 2.38 | 1.08 | ||
NO3− | 0.0482 | 1.675 | 0.937 | 0.59 | ||
PO43− | bdl | bdl | 0.033 | 0.035 | ||
SO42− | 29.7 | 97 | 29.1 | 99 | ||
NH4+ | 0.12 | 0.19 | 0.15 | 0.251 | ||
E.coli (cfu/100ml) | 0 | >20 | ND | >9.0 | ||
Faecal coliforms (cfu/100ml) | 0 | >1000 | ND | >1000 | ||
Biodiversity | ||||||
Phylum | shared genetic identity (%) | |||||
Kopanang | Vaal | 18S | cross | Zondereinde Bierspruit | ||
PROTOZOA | ||||||
Cyclidium | + | + | 100% | NA | − | − |
PLATHELMINTHES | ||||||
Dochmiotrema | + | + | 100% | NA | − | − |
Stenostomum sp. | + | − | − | − | − | − |
NEMATODA | ||||||
Tridentulus sp. | − | + | − | − | − | + |
Tobrilus gracilis | − | − | − | − | − | + |
Poikilolaimus oxycercus | + | + | 100% | F6 | − | − |
Halicephalobus gingivalis | + | − | − | − | − | − |
ANNELIDA | ||||||
Aeolosoma hemprichi | + | − | − | − | − | − |
ROTIFERA | ||||||
Rotifera sp. | + | − | − | − | − | − |
Control Samples | − | − | − | − | − | − |
