Abstract
Groundwater chemistry is mainly governed by lithological variations, space and resident time. In addition, hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater in the lithological contact zones are too complex. Hence, Cretaceous–Tertiary (KT) boundary from Ariyalur district, Tamilnadu, India, was selected for this study to identify the hydrogeochemistry of groundwater. This study includes 284 groundwater samples from four different seasons (pre-monsoon, post-monsoon, southwest monsoon and northeast monsoon). Groundwater samples were collected and analysed for major cations and anions, including physical parameters using standard procedures. High electrical conductivity (EC) showed the longer residence time of groundwater in hard rock region at the central and southern part of the study area. Ca2+, Na+, Cl− and HCO3− are the dominant ions in all the four seasons. The seasonal composition migration was observed from Na–Ca–Cl–HCO3 type to Na–Mg–Cl–HCO3 type, and Ca-HCO3 is the predominant water type in piper plot. Interpretation of data reveals that the groundwater quality was unsuitable for domestic and irrigation purposes during pre- and southwest monsoon seasons. Rock–water interaction and dissolution of minerals are the main sources of groundwater chemistry. Agriculture activities during monsoonal seasons also play a role in controlling the hydrogeochemistry of groundwater in this region.
Highlights
The dissolved ions in groundwater aid to recognize the major geochemical processes and help to determine the utility of water for various purposes
The chemical composition of groundwater is altered by hydrogeochemical processes and varies with space and time
The four-season spatial representation of the electrical conductivity (EC) shows that higher concentrations were found in the central and southern parts of the studied region covered by hard rock region, reflecting greater residence time
Summary
The dissolved ions in groundwater aid to recognize the major geochemical processes and help to determine the utility of water for various purposes. Groundwater quality concerns have become a major concern, and groundwater quality assessment and health risk assessment have been extensively studied around the world (Zhang et al 2020a, b; Adimalla and Qian 2021; Adimalla et al 2020a, b). This present study is more significant due to the difference in the adjoining lithologies, intensity of weathering, water level fluctuation, surface water–groundwater interaction, permeability and porosity of these aquifers (Archaean, Cretaceous, Tertiary and Quaternary)
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