Hydrogeochemical Investigation by Factor Analysis Method: A Case Study of Daloo Mountain Springs, Fars Province, Iran

Factor analysis is an efficient method in advanced statistics which is used for classifying parameters (variables). In this study, 19 samples were collected from the springs of Daloo mountain in Mishvan karstic anticline in the Syakh Darengun area in Fars Province, Iran. The hydrochemical analysis was carried out using the hydrogeochemical status of the region and principle component analysis. On the basis of factor analysis, three groups of factors were identified for ground water quality. The first and second groups were associated with the internal agents and the third group associated with the external ones. Then, underground water types were determined using graphical methods, especially by drawing Piper diagrams. According to the study results, all springs are calcic carbonate except numbers 16 and 17 which have magnesia carbonate type. Also, three origins were detected for the springs of the area. The first origin is related to the layers of limestone, the second one to the shale and marl layers, and the third one has a binary origin and is the combination of these two water types.