Purpose. Several natural and anthropogenic factors control the hydro-geochemical behavior of groundwater. These factors influence on the quality, even the suitability of this resource for drinking. The main purpose of our study is the application of multivariate statistical methods to compile the mechanisms of mineralization acquisition in confined aquifers. Methods. The adopted method measures the chemical evolution of Ca+2, Mg+2, Na+, K+, HCO-3, Cl-, SO4-2, NO-3, NO-2, NH+4, and PO4-3 using an atomic-absorption spectrometer. The content of nitrogen and dissolved oxygen is measured using a spectrophotometer. Temperature (T°), electrical conductivity (EC), pH and dissolved oxygen are determined using a multi-parameter system. Findings. The main results show that 28 water samples from the Mio-Plio-Quaternary aquifer of the Gadaïne-Ain Yaghout plain have chemical facies of chloride, sulfate-calcium and chloride-magnesium types. Originality. The originality of the study is in the demonstration that water acquires its carbonate mineralization at the supply limits. Whereas it acquires its chloride, sodium and sulfate mineralization in contact with terrigenous saliferous formations, as well as in its interaction with the salt chotts formations. The results show a significant variation in the concentrations of chemical elements, in some cases exceeding drinkability standards. Mineralization is mainly caused by the dissolution of evaporitic minerals such as gypsum, halite and epsomite. Practical implications. The practical implications of this study could be resumed in terms of the convenience of multiva-riate statistical evaluation of complex physical-chemical databases in identifying pollution sources and understanding temporal variations for effective groundwater quality management in semiarid regions.
The region of Chelghoum Laid - Tadjenanet is located in eastern Algeria, in the high plains. This area is characterized by a varied age (Mio-Plio-Quaternary) formations and the human demand is answered by the groundwater hosted into the superficial aquifer of the Mio-Plio-Quaternary formations. However, the overexploitation of this aquifer leads to a drop in the piezometric surface and an increase in salinity. of this aquifer leads to a drop in the piezometric surface and an increase in the salinity of the water. A hydrochemical study using characteristic ratios and statistical tools such as principal component analysis and hierarchical ascending classification, was performed using 28 water samples. Chemical analyzes show that the waters of this aquifer are of the calcium bicarbonate type on the limits of the study area, and calcium sulphate to sodium chloride in the centre. The spatial evolution of chemical water facies is explained by the phenomenon of dissolution and ion exchange between the alkali metals and alkaline earth metals coinciding with the West-East flow direction. The application of the various tools shows that the aquifer is recharged by precipitation at the plains border, where the water acquires its original mineralization from the carbonate formations, and becomes more mineralized in chlorides, sodium and sulphates concentrations in contact with the salt-bearing terrigenous formations of the Mio-Plio-Quaternary. The salinization of the waters seems to be mainly due to the dissolution of gypsum, halite and epsomite. The application of the ascending hierarchical classification and the principal component analysis shows the existence of two groups of water whose salinity increases from the borders towards the center of the plain following the main flow direction.
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