A Statistical Summary of ground water mineralization in the Aquifer of Intercalary Continental (Algerian Septentrional Sahara)

This study deals with the mineralization in the Intercalary Continental aquifer (CI) located at the Algerian Septentrional Sahara. Statistical analysis was performed on summarized data from different studies in order to identify the origin of that mineralization in a regional scale. Therefore, multivariate statistical analysis were applied on 488 representative wells such as: (1) Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and (2) Ascending Hierarchical Classification (CAH). Obtained results highlight the chemical typology of ground water. The multivariate statistics indicate a significant influence of evaporates on water mineralization as well as the dominance of chloride-sodium facies. However, the high water temperatures recorded in the eastern part of the basin suggest hydrolysis of silicates that contributes also in that mineralization. This study confirms rather the lithological host of aquifer as a main source of water mineralization.