title: Statistical source identification of major and trace elements in groundwater downward the tailings dam of Miduk Copper Complex, Kerman, Iran.
abstract: Identifying the possible sources of potential harmful metals in groundwater systems plays a crucial role in evaluating the potential risks to residents and local plant cover. An attempt was made to define the origin of Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mo, Ni, and Pb in groundwater using multivariate statistic approaches [principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis], and tailings sequential extraction by the method of Tessier et al. The concentrations of studied elements were measured in 42 samples collected from 15 stations surrounding and downward the tailings dam of Miduk Copper Complex, central province of Kerman, Iran. According to the PCA results, confirmed by cluster dendrogram and metal content measurement of tailings sequential extracts, two components accounting for nearly 73% of the total variance, controlled the heavy metal variability and classified the possible source of groundwater contamination into two categories: (1) upper seepage which controls the variability of Cd, Cu, Fe, Ni, and Pb and (2) toe seepage of tailings dump affecting on Mo and Al concentration in downstream groundwater.
authors: Environment Department, Natural Resources Faculty, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. kargar.maryam@gmail.com
authors: Maryam
authors: M
authors: Kargar
authors: Neamatolah
authors: N
authors: Khorasani
authors: Mahmoud
authors: M
authors: Karami
authors: Gholamreza
authors: G
authors: Rafiee
authors: Reza
authors: R
authors: Naseh
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D060587:Groundwater / Q000737:chemistry*; D007492:Iran; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis; D008906:Mining; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical