Factor analysis of rock, soil and water geochemical data from Salem magnesite mine area.

What is it about?

This work reports the geochemical data of rock, soil and water from samples collected within and around Salem magnesite mine area. Using statistical analysis, the compositional trends of rock, soil and water are explored. The rocks have clearly shown the enrichment of Co, Cr, Mg and NI by depletion of Al, K, Na and Si, indicating the processes by which the magnesite ore has formed. Whereas in the soil, Ca and Mg concentrations have negative influence on Al and Si content, indicating the leaching out of Na and K from the rock due to pedogenesis. The pedogenetic process also separated out the Co, Cr and Ni from the influence of major oxides of Al, K, Na and Si. But in the ground water, further separation occurs and there is a seasonal variation in the influencing factors. Thus, by combining the geochemistry of rock, soil and water it became possible to understand the geochemical evolution of a magnesite mine area driven by the weathering and related processes.

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Why is it important?

Mining areas are better grounds for understanding the environmental geochemistry of trace elements. In the magnesite mine area of Salem, the contamination of Cr, Co and Ni in the groundwater is of great concern. In this work, we report the processes by which these elements got enriched in the underground and explored how that varied seasonally. Finally, we revealed that though the source for all these trace elements is the same (the rocks), each trace element behaves differently in the soil and groundwater. Understanding such processes are essential in mining reclamation and pollution control strategies.

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