Major ion chemistry and suitability of groundwater resources for different utilizations in mica mining areas, Jharkhand, India
Abstract Groundwater resources in mica mining areas of Jharkhand are vital for local communities, agriculture, and domestic utilization. The study investigates the major ion chemistry of groundwater in the mica mining regions, focusing on key physicochemical parameters such as pH, electrical conduct...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Geochemical Transactions |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12932-025-00099-x |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850128178227445760 |
|---|---|
| author | Soma Giri Ashwani Kumar Tiwari Mukesh Kumar Mahato Abhay Kumar Singh |
| author_facet | Soma Giri Ashwani Kumar Tiwari Mukesh Kumar Mahato Abhay Kumar Singh |
| author_sort | Soma Giri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Groundwater resources in mica mining areas of Jharkhand are vital for local communities, agriculture, and domestic utilization. The study investigates the major ion chemistry of groundwater in the mica mining regions, focusing on key physicochemical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), and concentrations of major cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺) and anions (HCO₃⁻, Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻, F−). Groundwater samples from the study area were collected before the monsoon season, during the monsoon season, and after the monsoon season. The hydro-chemical analysis reveals that groundwater in the mica mining zones exhibits elevated levels of dissolved ions, with NO₃⁻, F−, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and total hardness exceeding permissible limits set by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for drinking purposes at some locations. Water Quality Index (WQI) assessments suggest that a significant proportion of groundwater samples fall into the “good” to “very good” category for drinking and about 29% of the samples fall under the “poor” category. The groundwater was generally suitable for irrigational use with exception of a few due to high salinity. The principal component analysis revealed rock weathering as a dominant source of ions along with anthropogenic sources like mining and agriculture contributing minorly to the ionic load. The predominant hydro-chemical facies identified were Ca-Mg-HCO3 and Ca-Mg-Cl-SO4 types. Both carbonate and silicate weathering play an important role in the geochemical signature of the groundwater in the area. The study implicates the potential health impacts of using the groundwater as drinking water without treatment at a few locations owing to high fluoride, nitrate and dissolved solids. The study also highlights the need for sustainable water management practices and regular monitoring of groundwater quality to mitigate the anthropogenic impacts on groundwater resources. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9f301e94688f4f4ab4ecb2592cbbf786 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1467-4866 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geochemical Transactions |
| spelling | doaj-art-9f301e94688f4f4ab4ecb2592cbbf7862025-08-20T02:33:26ZengBMCGeochemical Transactions1467-48662025-05-0126112210.1186/s12932-025-00099-xMajor ion chemistry and suitability of groundwater resources for different utilizations in mica mining areas, Jharkhand, IndiaSoma Giri0Ashwani Kumar Tiwari1Mukesh Kumar Mahato2Abhay Kumar Singh3Department of Environmental Science, Central University of South BiharSchool of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru UniversityDepartment of Environmental Studies, Lakshmibai College, University of DelhiCSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel ResearchAbstract Groundwater resources in mica mining areas of Jharkhand are vital for local communities, agriculture, and domestic utilization. The study investigates the major ion chemistry of groundwater in the mica mining regions, focusing on key physicochemical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), and concentrations of major cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺) and anions (HCO₃⁻, Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻, F−). Groundwater samples from the study area were collected before the monsoon season, during the monsoon season, and after the monsoon season. The hydro-chemical analysis reveals that groundwater in the mica mining zones exhibits elevated levels of dissolved ions, with NO₃⁻, F−, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and total hardness exceeding permissible limits set by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for drinking purposes at some locations. Water Quality Index (WQI) assessments suggest that a significant proportion of groundwater samples fall into the “good” to “very good” category for drinking and about 29% of the samples fall under the “poor” category. The groundwater was generally suitable for irrigational use with exception of a few due to high salinity. The principal component analysis revealed rock weathering as a dominant source of ions along with anthropogenic sources like mining and agriculture contributing minorly to the ionic load. The predominant hydro-chemical facies identified were Ca-Mg-HCO3 and Ca-Mg-Cl-SO4 types. Both carbonate and silicate weathering play an important role in the geochemical signature of the groundwater in the area. The study implicates the potential health impacts of using the groundwater as drinking water without treatment at a few locations owing to high fluoride, nitrate and dissolved solids. The study also highlights the need for sustainable water management practices and regular monitoring of groundwater quality to mitigate the anthropogenic impacts on groundwater resources.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12932-025-00099-xGroundwater qualityMica miningWater quality indexDrinking water suitabilityIrrigational suitabilityPrincipal component analysis |
| spellingShingle | Soma Giri Ashwani Kumar Tiwari Mukesh Kumar Mahato Abhay Kumar Singh Major ion chemistry and suitability of groundwater resources for different utilizations in mica mining areas, Jharkhand, India Geochemical Transactions Groundwater quality Mica mining Water quality index Drinking water suitability Irrigational suitability Principal component analysis |
| title | Major ion chemistry and suitability of groundwater resources for different utilizations in mica mining areas, Jharkhand, India |
| title_full | Major ion chemistry and suitability of groundwater resources for different utilizations in mica mining areas, Jharkhand, India |
| title_fullStr | Major ion chemistry and suitability of groundwater resources for different utilizations in mica mining areas, Jharkhand, India |
| title_full_unstemmed | Major ion chemistry and suitability of groundwater resources for different utilizations in mica mining areas, Jharkhand, India |
| title_short | Major ion chemistry and suitability of groundwater resources for different utilizations in mica mining areas, Jharkhand, India |
| title_sort | major ion chemistry and suitability of groundwater resources for different utilizations in mica mining areas jharkhand india |
| topic | Groundwater quality Mica mining Water quality index Drinking water suitability Irrigational suitability Principal component analysis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12932-025-00099-x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT somagiri majorionchemistryandsuitabilityofgroundwaterresourcesfordifferentutilizationsinmicaminingareasjharkhandindia AT ashwanikumartiwari majorionchemistryandsuitabilityofgroundwaterresourcesfordifferentutilizationsinmicaminingareasjharkhandindia AT mukeshkumarmahato majorionchemistryandsuitabilityofgroundwaterresourcesfordifferentutilizationsinmicaminingareasjharkhandindia AT abhaykumarsingh majorionchemistryandsuitabilityofgroundwaterresourcesfordifferentutilizationsinmicaminingareasjharkhandindia |