2025-08-21 GLOBAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES 2025 39(卷), 8(期), (null页)
We report stable silicon isotope ratio (delta 30Si) of over 80 groundwater samples collected along the Indian coast, spanning a wide range of aquifer lithologies (alluvial, basalt, metamorphic, laterite and limestone), climate (semi-arid to tropical wet) and land use settings. Indian coastal groundwater exhibits large spatial variability in dissolved silicon (DSi) (80-1350 mu M) and delta 30Si values (-1.1 parts per thousand to 4.5 parts per thousand). On average, the delta 30Si value of the Indian coastal groundwater (0.8 +/- 1.1 parts per thousand, 1SD, n = 85) is comparable to published groundwater globally (0.8 +/- 0.8 parts per thousand, n = 117), and significantly lower than Indian riverine delta 30Si composition. The coastal groundwater delta 30Si values do not show any dependence on regional aquifer lithology. However, the permeable coastal alluvial groundwaters exhibit the highest variability in DSi and delta 30Si, likely acquiring signatures of shallow surface/subsurface processes through mixing. A broad negative correlation between delta 30Si values and the Ge/Si ratio is best explained by the partitioning of Si into secondary minerals phases within the weathering zone. The majority of coastal groundwater follows a steady-state model evolution, indicating a dynamic equilibrium between Si supply and the formation of secondary phases. In regions of low annual rainfall, groundwater irrigation can lead to infiltration of return flow water to aquifer systems, leading to their heavy delta 30Si values. The fresh submarine groundwater discharge along the Indian coast is estimated to be 2.1 GmolSi yr-1, which is less than 1% of the riverine Si flux to the North Indian Ocean and 0.3% of the global fresh groundwater Si flux.