Hydrochemical characteristics and sources of chemical constituents in groundwater in Hunchun River Basin, Northeast China

The chemical characteristics of groundwater and its sources are an important basis for protecting groundwater quality. Taking the Hunchun River basin in northeast China as an example, 134 groundwater and surface water samples were collected and tested. Groundwater chemical characteristics and types were analyzed using the water chemistry statistical method and Piper’s diagram method. Comparative analysis of the water chemistry characteristics of different clusters was carried out using multivariate statistical analysis methods such as cluster analysis and principal component analysis, and analysis of the sources of groundwater chemical components was carried out using the Gibbs diagram method, ion analysis, and mineral saturation index. The results show that the groundwater chemistry in the Hunchun basin is Ca-HCO3 and CaMg-HCO3, with Fe and NO3− being the main components affecting water quality. The two clustering groups have distinctly different water chemistry characteristics. The Cl− and Na+ of groundwater in the study area may mainly come from the dissolution of salt rocks, Na+ is also affected by ion exchange. Ca2+ and Mg2+ may come from carbonate minerals. K+ may come from the weathering of silicates, and Fe may come from the dissolution of iron minerals.