Spatial and Temporal Evolutions of Shallow Groundwater with Anthropogenic Activities: A Case Study of Sunan Mine Region, China

Abstract

The availability of shallow groundwater resources has attracted attention in coal mining areas, due to its applications as a reliable municipal water source, in agriculture and mineral extraction, as well as in underground engineering construction [1][2][3][4]. In the coal mining area, mining has caused water from loose Cenozoic strata and Permian sandstone to infiltrate rapidly into the mine, causing a regional groundwater decrease. Shallow groundwater resources are facing depletion [5][6][7][8][9]. In addition, surface wells are drying up, which affects residents' domestic water supply [10,11]. However, through a long series of processes, groundwater undergoes a variety of hydrogeochemical processes that lead to water quality deterioration and water resource depletion [12][13][14].The evolution of groundwater composition can only be assessed through scientific studies, which are key for water resource management and control. In this regard, water chemistry data from different periods serve as a tool for research. Traditional water chemistry analysis methods such as Piper, Gibbs, and ion scatter diagrams have been widely used to study groundwater types and