Metal-rich water, as it moves away from the source of the metal, ordinarily comes into an environment where changing conditions of some kind cause precipitation of part or all of the metal from the water. Precipitation barriers account for the more than normal decay of hydrochemical anomalies than can be accounted for by simple dilution. They characteristically occur in spring and seepage areas where groundwaters coming to the surface encounter an environment of increased availability of oxygen, sunlight, and organic activity.