Hydrogeochemical behavior around the abandoned Kettara mine site, Morocco

• Characterization of the groundwater pollution in the area of Kettara Hydrgeochimecal behavior is very relevant in assessing the groundwater quality.
• Statistical analysis is powerful in elaborating spatial distribution of pollutants, their application allows the determination of the most contaminated wells and the spatial evolution of major ions.
• The contamination of groundwater is mainly attributed to sulfate.
• The origin of contamination is in deposited mine wastes.

One of the most serious environmental issues related to the mining industry in Morocco and elsewhere, is the pollution from abandoned mine sites. The production of Acid mine drainage (AMD) causes obvious sources of groundwater contamination. With the objective to investigate the impact of the AMD produced at the abandoned Kettara mine site (Morocco), groundwater sampling campaigns were performed during dry and wet seasons at this site. Water samples were analyzed to determine the hydrochemistry composition. The obtained results were analyzed using different research methods such as multivariate statistical analysis and geochemical modeling techniques.Investigation results show that the hydrochemistry of water samples is characterized by the relatively significant enrichment in Ca2 +, Mg2 + and SO42 −. The typical mine waters belongs to the (Ca2 + + Mg2 +)-SO42 − type. Seasonal variations in major ion concentrations were partly attributed to dissolution/precipitation processes. The saturation index (SI) for representative minerals in waters shows that groundwater samples are undersaturated with respect to most potential sulfated secondary minerals.The results of the study will serve to identify pollutants from the abandoned mine drainage and assess the degree of groundwater pollution. They can also be used to prepare a rehabilitation scenario and prevent further environmental pollution.