Hydrochemical Investigation of Khuzestan Sulfur Springs Using Multivariate Statistical Analysis

Sulfur springs are distinguished from other groundwater sources by their specific therapeutic, thermal and hydrochemical properties. Golgir, Meydavood, Naft Sefid, pole Zal, Grasab JaOrdo, Mashrageh, Grab Behbahan, and Baba Ahmad Springs are low-temperature sulfur springs in Zagros area of Khuzestan. These springs have temperatures between 22 and 35 °C and appear along with the Zagros thrust. By analyzing the hydrochemical data of sulfur springs on two periods (December 2017 and May 2018) and applying the hydrochemical methods, principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering (AHC), it has been tried to identify the factors affecting the chemical quality of the springs. The first factor includes the electrical conductivity, Na, Cl, K, Ca, Mg, As and Cd variables, this factor is due to the interaction of aquifer and water materials, as well as high correlation between the main ions, arsenic and cadmium indicates that these elements have similar origin.The second factor includes the SO4, NO3, and S variables. According to the results of TOC analysis, this factor can be attributed to the influence of oil brines. Piper diagrams and hierarchical Q-mode clustering were used to classify the springs studied. The Piper diagram separated these springs into three groups and the hierarchical Q-mode clustering method, taking into account further parameters of sulfur springs in four groups.