Chemical Analysis of Gaet’ale, a Hypersaline Pond in Danakil Depression (Ethiopia): New Record for the Most Saline Water Body on Earth

Aquatic Geochemistry - Tập 23 - Trang 109-117 - 2017
Eduardo Pérez1, Yonas Chebude1
1Department of Chemistry, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Tóm tắt

The chemical analysis of the water of Gaet’ale Pond, a small water body located in Danakil Depression, Ethiopia, resulted to be the most saline water body on earth with total dissolved solids (TDS) of 433 g kg−1. The composition of the water indicates the predominance of two main salts: CaCl2 and MgCl2 at a proportion of Ca:Mg = 3.1 (w/w). Traces of K+, Na+ and NO3 − are also detected, as well as Fe(III) complexes that give the water a characteristic yellow color. Density measurements, elemental analysis, thermogravimetrical analysis (TGA) and powder X-ray diffraction data are consistent with the composition and salinity determined. The water of this pond has a similar composition to Don Juan Pond, Antarctica, but a higher salinity, which can be explained in terms of temperature and solubility of the main components.

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