Identification of the Hydrogeochemical Processes in Groundwater Using Classic Integrated Geochemical Methods and Geostatistical Techniques, in Amol-Babol Plain, Iran

Abstract

Hydrogeochemical investigations had been carried out at the Amol-Babol Plain in the north of Iran. Geochemical processes and factors controlling the groundwater chemistry are identified based on the combination of classic geochemical methods with geographic information system (GIS) and geostatistical techniques. The results of the ionic ratios and Gibbs plots show that water rock interaction mechanisms, followed by cation exchange, and dissolution of carbonate and silicate minerals have influenced the groundwater chemistry in the study area. The hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater show a shift from low mineralized Ca-HCO3, Ca-Na-HCO3, and Ca-Cl water types to high mineralized Na-Cl water type. Three classes, namely, C1, C2, and C3, have been classified using cluster analysis. The spatial distribution maps of Na+/Cl−, Mg2+/Ca2+, and Cl−/HCO3 − ratios and electrical conductivity values indicate that the carbonate and weathering of silicate minerals played a significant role in the groundwater chemistry on the southern and western sides of the plain. However, salinization process had increased due to the influence of the evaporation-precipitation process towards the north-eastern side of the study area.

Groundwater quality assessment for domestic and agriculture purposes in Puducherry region

“…The coasts are one such region which solely depends on groundwater for all its needs. Groundwater quality is affected by both geogenic and anthropogenic agents (Sheikhy Narany et al 2014). The quality of groundwater is at greater risk due to seawater intrusion along the coast all around the world (Batayneh et al 2014;Mondal et al 2010).…”

“…The quality of groundwater is at greater risk due to seawater intrusion along the coast all around the world (Batayneh et al 2014;Mondal et al 2010). Groundwater salinization is also due to overpumping, population growth, high evaporation rate and less recharge, seawater-freshwater interaction (Sheikhy Narany et al 2014). The chemical, physical and biological characteristics of groundwater vary spatially and temporally.…”

Hydrogeochemical assessment of a coastal aquifer using statistical and geospatial techniques: case study of Mombasa North Coast, Kenya

“…Groundwater stored in aquifers is affected by both natural and anthropogenic factors. Geological structure, geochemical processes, constituents of precipitation which percolates into the aquifer and rock-water interaction within the aquifer are some of the factors controlling the nature of groundwater found in a place (Sheikhy Narany et al 2014). The combined effects of these factors dictate the groundwater type; however, the hydrogeochemical processes in the aquifer may also undergo variations in space and time (Belkhiri and Mouni 2013;Sheikhy Narany et al 2014).…”

“…Geological structure, geochemical processes, constituents of precipitation which percolates into the aquifer and rock-water interaction within the aquifer are some of the factors controlling the nature of groundwater found in a place (Sheikhy Narany et al 2014). The combined effects of these factors dictate the groundwater type; however, the hydrogeochemical processes in the aquifer may also undergo variations in space and time (Belkhiri and Mouni 2013;Sheikhy Narany et al 2014). Some established methods for investigating the nature of coastal aquifers are: hydrochemical approaches using graphical and multivariate statistical methods (Banoeng-Yakubo et al 2009;Okiongbo and Douglas 2014;Ziani et al 2016); numerical modelling (Volker et al 2002;Sindhu et al 2012); electrical sounding methods (Olayinka et al 2004;Yan et al 2009); ground penetrating radar methods (Beres and Haeni 1991;Gulevich and Volkomirskaya 2015); GIS methods (Balathandayutham et al 2017;Durgadevagi et al 2016).…”

“…The chemistry of groundwater based on hydrochemical data is expedient for giving baseline information on groundwater types, the study of different chemical activities in the aquifer, identification of the aquifer type, as well as the classification of groundwater based on usage (Mondal et al 2011a). The recent studies have integrated the application of geographic information systems (GIS) with multivariate statistical approaches for groundwater studies (Somay and Gemici, 2008;Sheikhy Narany et al 2014). In this study, statistical, graphical and GIS methods were applied in studying the hydrochemistry of the groundwater of the study area.…”