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<p>In this paper, the hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater were assessed on a seasonal basis in the Kuju coal mining areas of the Mandu block of Ramgarh district, Jharkhand. The groundwater sampling was done for the pre-and post-monsoon season of 2024. The samples were analysed for major physicochemical parameters such as pH<b>,</b> total dissolved solids (TDS), electric conductivity (EC), major cations and anions. Multivariate statistical studies like Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), Pearson correlation, Piper and Gibbs plot, and GIS-based spatial interpolation were applied to evaluate the controlling geochemical processes and spatial distribution of groundwater quality. The correlation analysis showed stronger post-monsoon ionic relationships between TDS, EC, Calcium, Magnesium, and Sulphate, indicating enhanced mineral dissolution and anthropogenic inputs. The boxplot results revealed higher TDS, EC, chloride, and sodium levels in pre-monsoons, which declined after rainfall dilution, while nutrients and fluoride showed slight post-monsoon increases. Piper and Gibbs diagrams showed a shift from Ca-Mg-HCO<sub>3</sub> facies and rock dominance pre-monsoon to Na-Cl-SO<sub>4</sub> facies and salinity/evaporation dominance post-monsoon. The HCA analysis grouped samples into two clusters per season, while PCA highlighted mineralisation, sulphate, nitrate and fluoride as key contributions to water chemistry. The results showed that the groundwater chemistry during the pre-monsoon season was primarily controlled by natural rock-water interaction and dissolution of minerals. Post-monsoon season samples reflected elevated salinity and contamination due to surface runoff, leaching of fertilisers and human inputs. Water quality index (WQI) values indicated a considerable reduction in water quality in the post-monsoon, with 60% of the samples falling under the extremely poor category. Fluoride levels were higher than permissible limits at many places (̌ &gt; 1.5&#xa0;mg/L). Health risk assessment indicated non-carcinogenic risks (HQ &gt; 1), especially in children. The research highlights the imperative to conduct frequent groundwater monitoring, public health education of the communities, and deployment of fluoride mitigation measures to guarantee the sustainability and safety of groundwater resources in mining-affected areas.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

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Evaluation of Hydrogeochemical Characteristics of Groundwater Resources in the Kuju Coal Mining Area of Ramgarh District, Jharkhand

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月26日

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  • Saahil Hembrom,
  • Neeta Kumari

摘要

In this paper, the hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater were assessed on a seasonal basis in the Kuju coal mining areas of the Mandu block of Ramgarh district, Jharkhand. The groundwater sampling was done for the pre-and post-monsoon season of 2024. The samples were analysed for major physicochemical parameters such as pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), electric conductivity (EC), major cations and anions. Multivariate statistical studies like Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), Pearson correlation, Piper and Gibbs plot, and GIS-based spatial interpolation were applied to evaluate the controlling geochemical processes and spatial distribution of groundwater quality. The correlation analysis showed stronger post-monsoon ionic relationships between TDS, EC, Calcium, Magnesium, and Sulphate, indicating enhanced mineral dissolution and anthropogenic inputs. The boxplot results revealed higher TDS, EC, chloride, and sodium levels in pre-monsoons, which declined after rainfall dilution, while nutrients and fluoride showed slight post-monsoon increases. Piper and Gibbs diagrams showed a shift from Ca-Mg-HCO3 facies and rock dominance pre-monsoon to Na-Cl-SO4 facies and salinity/evaporation dominance post-monsoon. The HCA analysis grouped samples into two clusters per season, while PCA highlighted mineralisation, sulphate, nitrate and fluoride as key contributions to water chemistry. The results showed that the groundwater chemistry during the pre-monsoon season was primarily controlled by natural rock-water interaction and dissolution of minerals. Post-monsoon season samples reflected elevated salinity and contamination due to surface runoff, leaching of fertilisers and human inputs. Water quality index (WQI) values indicated a considerable reduction in water quality in the post-monsoon, with 60% of the samples falling under the extremely poor category. Fluoride levels were higher than permissible limits at many places (̌ > 1.5 mg/L). Health risk assessment indicated non-carcinogenic risks (HQ > 1), especially in children. The research highlights the imperative to conduct frequent groundwater monitoring, public health education of the communities, and deployment of fluoride mitigation measures to guarantee the sustainability and safety of groundwater resources in mining-affected areas.

Graphical Abstract