Geochemistry and multivariate statistical analysis for fluoride occurrence in groundwater in the Kuhbanan basin, Central Iran

Abstract

The groundwater is the only major source of drinking water in central part of Iran. The study was carried out to locate and decipher hydrogeochemical reactions responsible for elevated concentration of fluoride. In the Kuhbanan basin groundwater samples were collected at 24 sites and analyzed. The concentration of fluoride ranged from 0.05 to 10.8 mg/l in groundwater of study area. Statistical analyses were applied to a subgroup of the dataset to evaluate their usefulness to classify the groundwater samples, and to identify geochemical processes controlling groundwater geochemistry. Groundwater in the study area is mainly saline (Na–Cl type water), and statistical analyses show that weathering of the fluorapatite and silicate minerals is the common source for F− in study area.