Hydrogeochemical Characteristics of Groundwater Surrounding Gold Mine Area in
Phichit - Phetchabun Provinces
Jirawan Thamrongsrisakul(1), Srilert Chotpantarat(2,3)
(1)
Inter-department of Environmental Science, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University
Bangkok,10330, Thailand.
(2)
Department of Geology Faculty of Science Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330,
Thailand.
(3)
Center of Excellence on Hazardous Substance Management (HSM) , Chulalongkorn
University, Bangkok, Thailand
*
E-mail:Jirawan_t@hotmail.com, csrilert@gmail.com
Abstract : In last decade, groundwater is an important source of water. This study focused on
groundwater quality located about 280 km. north from Bangkok on the border between
Phichit and Phetchabun Provinces. Due to the current economic expansion has increased and
in turn impact on groundwater quality. Since there are a variety of geological features and
human activities, including mining and agricultural community in such area, the correlation
technique of hydrogeochemical parameters would be considered to address the sources of
groundwater contamination. This study samples were collected 47 groundwater wells in May
2013(summer) with a different geological characteristics and land use types. There are 4
layers which are weathered or fractured volcanic rock, rhyolite and andesitic tuff (Vw) of
53.19%, volcanic rock, rhyolite and andesitic tuff (Vf) of 23.40%, floodplain deposit and clay
dominant (Qfd) of 12.47%. and hard volcanic rock, andesitic and diorite (Vm) of 10.64%.
According to Piper diagrams, the results showed that groundwater chemistry was
Groundwater types and the percentages for each type were: Ca-HCO3 (53.19%), Ca-Mg-Cl
(14.89%), Ca-Na-HCO3 (8.51%), Ca-Cl (10.64%), Na-Cl (8.51%), Na-HCO3 (4.26%). This
study Furthermore, the correlation matrix, implemented the correlation matrix among the
chemical constituents, showed highly relationships as the descending order: TDS-EC (r =
0.906), As-Pb (r=0.771) ,Fe-Zn(r=0.622) and Mg-SO42-( r =0.812). Mg2+ in groundwater
often comes from the input of the dissolution of dolomite and sulfate (SO4 2−) may come from
rainfall and agrochemical fertilizers. Soil was controlled by weathering rocks in area and ZnPb may occur from oxidation product of primary lead sulfide ore (galena,PbS), (Sphalerite,
ZnS) and Arsenopyrite, an iron arsenic sulfide (FeAsS, FeS2, FeAs). In summary, both natural
and human activities may affect groundwater quality around such gold mine area.
Acknowledgement : The authors are very grateful to laboratory of the Inter-department of
Environmental Science and Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University for partially funding
support for financial support.
Keywords: Groundwater, Hydrogeochemical characteristics, Statistics, Gold Mine.