Exploratory Analysis of Sediment Geochemistry to Determine the Source and Dispersion of Ba, Fe, Mn, Pb and Cu and in Chihuahua, Northern Mexico

• DOI: 10.5539/jgg.v4n4p26
• Publication Date: 2012-09-20T09:01:05Z
• Authors: Melida Gutierrez; Victor M. Reyes G...; Ma. Teresa Alarco...; Daniel Nuñez Lopez
• Keywords: Lithology; Exploratory analysis; Exploratory data analysis

Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) was applied to asediment geochemistry data set (N = 2,584) within the Chihuahuan Desert in northern Mexico. Each point contained information on location, concentration of 19 elements, and lithology. A Box Plot analysis determine mild extreme anomaly thresholds. Anomaly maps revealed areas anomalies as well dispersion patterns for each element; Ba most mobile five elements Pb least. Specific potential sources contamination were identified visually after superimposing with map layers mines, urban centers and/or hydrology. The that mining an important source Pb, Fe, Mn contamination, while copper instead associated presence Tertiary volcanic rocks abound western edge study area. Multi-element exploratory techniques yielded four principal components accounted 74% total variance, exposing a strong association among Mn, P Mg PC1, Ca Sr PC2, Co, Cu, Cr, Ni PC3 PC4. By identifying contaminant sources, EDA shed some light into nature if natural or anthropogenic, critical piece impact assessment studies best management plans.