Abstract
In order to identify the hydrogeochemical process controlling the quality of groundwater, in the Razan basin, Iran, groundwater samples were collected at 71 sites over a 300 km2 study area and analyzed for major ions. Scattered plots, hierarchical cluster analysis, and factor analysis were applied to a subgroup of the dataset to evaluate their usefulness to classify the groundwater samples and to identify the geochemical processes controlling groundwater geochemistry. The groundwater in the studied area can be classified as recharge area waters (Ca–SO4 and Ca–Mg–HCO3 types), transition area waters (Na–Cl type), and discharge area waters (Ca–Mg–SO4–Cl type). The work shows that the hydrogeochemistry of the groundwater in the study area is mainly controlled by water–rock interaction and ions release through the dissolution of salts and carbonates, cation exchange, and weathering of silicates.
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Pazand, K. Geochemical and statistical evaluation of groundwater in Razan basin, Western Iran. Carbonates Evaporites 31, 179–185 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-015-0258-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-015-0258-1