mineral saturation indices

Mineral saturation indices are numerical values that indicate whether water is likely to dissolve or precipitate minerals. They compare the chemical makeup of water to the minerals it might contain. A positive index suggests the water is oversaturated and may deposit minerals, forming deposits like scale or rock. A negative index indicates undersaturation, meaning minerals may dissolve into the water. An index around zero suggests the water is in balance, neither dissolving nor depositing minerals. These values help understand water quality and predict mineral behavior in natural systems or during water treatment.