Response to comments on Vengosh et al. (2022): The strontium isotope fingerprint of phosphate rocks mining

Avner Vengosh, Zhen Wang, Gordon Williams, Robert Hill, Rachel Coyte, Gary S. Dwyer

Research output: Contribution to journalLetterOtherpeer-review

Abstract

Vengosh et al. (2022) presented integrated geochemical data that included major and trace elements coupled with strontium isotope variations in groundwater that were used to elucidate the source of salinization of groundwater and Ein Bokek spring in the northeastern Negev in Israel. The study included analyses of phosphate rocks and wastewater from the phosphate mine and fertilizer production operations in Mishor Rotem Industries. The study revealed that the phosphate mining generates wastewater with distinctive geochemical and strontium isotope compositions. Since the geochemical and Sr isotope compositions of the salinized groundwater were different from those of the phosphate wastewater but similar to a different wastewater source, Vengosh et al. (2022) excluded the phosphate mining effluent as the major contamination source. These results contradict previous studies (e.g., Burg and Guttman, 2019) that claimed that phosphate mining was the major source of contamination without characterizing the geochemical composition of wastewaters from the phosphate rock mining. We are thankful to Burg et al. (2023) for raising important issues related to the salinization of groundwater in the northeastern Negev in Israel and for highlighting the novelty of using strontium isotopes for elucidating the source of groundwater contamination in the context of phosphate mining and fertilizer production.
Original languageEnglish
Article number161878
Number of pages3
JournalScience of the Total Environment
Volume870
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Apr 2023
Externally publishedYes

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