Environmental isotope study of ground water in crystalline rocks of the Accra plains (Ghana)

The isotope hydrogeology of the crystalline rocks of the Accra plains of south-east Ghana is studied with the view of obtaining more information on the recharge process, origin of high TDS, aquifer continuity and time of residence of the ground waters. Results available up to date suggest that the high salt content of the ground waters is due to dissolution of soluble salts in the soils. It appears that infiltration is rapid and vertical without much evaporation and it has been shown that the ground waters do not form a continuous body of water. A geochemical method using the carbon-13 content of total dissolved inorganic carbon is employed to help in estimating the residence time of ground water using the carbon-14 method. (author)