Chemical and isotopic composition of karstic lakes in Jamaica, West Indies

Chemical data, together with isotope ratios for deuterium:hydrogen, oxygen-18:oxygen-16, carbon-13:carbon-12 and strontium-87:strontium-86 confirmed that karstic spring water that entered the Wallywash great pond, Jamaica, was modified by mixing with rainfall and runoff, evaporation, decalcification from bicarbonate assimilation and degassing. Recent carbonate precipitation was mostly of high magnesium calcite but with some aragonite formation on the leaves of Potamogeton spp. Two smaller lakes to the north showed some influence from the brackish coastal aquifer, which suggested sensitivity to boundaries between fresh and brackish waters caused by climatic or sea level changes. The carbon-13:carbon-12 ratio was indicative of influence from carbon dioxide derived from plant respiration or decay. There are 49 references.