Journal of Geological Society of India (Online archive from Vol 1 to Vol 78)

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Multivariate Statistical Analysis of Geochemical Data of Groundwater in Veeranam Catchment Area, Tamil Nadu


Affiliations
1 Department of Geology, Alagappa Govt. Arts College, Karaikudi – 630 003, India
2 Department of Earth Sciences, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar – 608 002, India
3 No.572, P.S.P. Street, Soodamani Nagar, Karaikudi – 630 003, India
4 Department of Geology, Bharathidasan University, Trichy, India
     

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The study of hydrogeochemistry of the Mio-Pliocene sedimentary rock aquifer system in Veeranam catchment area produced a large geochemical dataset. Groundwater samples were collected at 52 sites over 963.86 km2 area and analyzed for major ions. The large number of data can lead to difficulties in the integration, interpretation and representation of the results. Two multivariate statistical methods, Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and Factor analysis (FA), were applied to a subgroup of the dataset to evaluate their usefulness to classify the groundwater samples, and to identify geochetgmical processes controlling groundwater geochemistry. Hydrochemical data for 52 groundwater samples were subjected to Q- and R- mode factor and cluster analysis. R-mode analysis reveals the inter-relations among the variables studied and the Q-mode analysis reveals the inter-relations among the samples studied. The R-mode factor analysis shows that Ca, Mg and Cl with HCO3 account for most of the electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids and total hardness of groundwater. The 'single dominance' nature of the majority of the factors in the R-mode analysis indicates non-mixing or partial mixing of different types of groundwater. Both Q-mode factor and Q-mode cluster analyses indicate an exchange between the river water and the groundwater in the vicinity. The rock water interaction like flood basin back swamp deposits of silty clayey formation is the major cause for the cluster II classification. Cluster classification map reveals that 58% of the study area comes under cluster II classification.

Keywords

Groundwater, Multivariate Statistical Analysis, Geochemical Data, Tamil Nadu.
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  • Multivariate Statistical Analysis of Geochemical Data of Groundwater in Veeranam Catchment Area, Tamil Nadu

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Authors

M. Suvedha
Department of Geology, Alagappa Govt. Arts College, Karaikudi – 630 003, India
B. Gurugnanam
Department of Earth Sciences, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar – 608 002, India
M. Suganya
No.572, P.S.P. Street, Soodamani Nagar, Karaikudi – 630 003, India
S. Vasudevan
Department of Geology, Bharathidasan University, Trichy, India

Abstract


The study of hydrogeochemistry of the Mio-Pliocene sedimentary rock aquifer system in Veeranam catchment area produced a large geochemical dataset. Groundwater samples were collected at 52 sites over 963.86 km2 area and analyzed for major ions. The large number of data can lead to difficulties in the integration, interpretation and representation of the results. Two multivariate statistical methods, Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and Factor analysis (FA), were applied to a subgroup of the dataset to evaluate their usefulness to classify the groundwater samples, and to identify geochetgmical processes controlling groundwater geochemistry. Hydrochemical data for 52 groundwater samples were subjected to Q- and R- mode factor and cluster analysis. R-mode analysis reveals the inter-relations among the variables studied and the Q-mode analysis reveals the inter-relations among the samples studied. The R-mode factor analysis shows that Ca, Mg and Cl with HCO3 account for most of the electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids and total hardness of groundwater. The 'single dominance' nature of the majority of the factors in the R-mode analysis indicates non-mixing or partial mixing of different types of groundwater. Both Q-mode factor and Q-mode cluster analyses indicate an exchange between the river water and the groundwater in the vicinity. The rock water interaction like flood basin back swamp deposits of silty clayey formation is the major cause for the cluster II classification. Cluster classification map reveals that 58% of the study area comes under cluster II classification.

Keywords


Groundwater, Multivariate Statistical Analysis, Geochemical Data, Tamil Nadu.

References