Abstract The study examines a comprehensive hydrogeochemical assessment of groundwater quality within the Kolar gold fields (KGF) region of Karnataka, India. Forty groundwater samples were assessed for pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, and major ion concentrations, including sodium, calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonates. Various indices like the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), adjusted SAR, permeability, magnesium ratio, and water quality index (WQI) were applied to evaluate irrigation potential. The authors investigated the effects of mining tailings and natural factors on the suitability of water for drinking and agricultural purposes. Studies show that the water quality index (WQI) ranks water as “poor” and unsuitable for consumption without major treatment, attributed to elevated total dissolved solids (TDS) and hardness levels. In the present study, strong correlations between total dissolved solids and major ions like sodium, calcium, and magnesium, significantly contributing to mineralization. While the adjusted sodium adsorption ratio and USSL diagrams indicate a low sodium hazard for crops, suggesting good permeability, many samples fall into categories denoting high salinity. Piper diagrams identified dominant water types as calcium-bicarbonate and calcium-magnesium-chloride, with the latter suggesting saline or seawater intrusion. Geochemical modeling indicates that the chemical composition of groundwater is primarily affected by evaporation and cation exchange, significantly influencing its geochemical characteristics. Bivariate plots highlight halite dissolution and cation exchange as key processes affecting water quality, with bicarbonate and sodium being crucial ions. Ultimately, the study underscores the critical need for integrated resource management to mitigate the persistent water quality challenges resulting from the area’s geologic setting and historical gold mining.
Arveti et al. (Sun,) studied this question.