The hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater in the Tarkwa Mining Area, Ghana

Abstract

A study has been carried out on the groundwater in the Tarkwa mining area to establish the hydrochemistry of groundwater in the community. The groundwater was found to vary considerably in terms of chemical and physical properties. Generally, the water was mildly acidic (pH 4.3 to 6.7), moderately mineralized and fresh. Chemical constituents are generally low. The order of relative abundance of major cations in the groundwater is Na > Ca > Mg > K while that of anions is HCO3 > Cl > SO4.The majority of groundwater clustered toward Ca–Mg–HCO3 with the remaining being Na-Cl and Na-HCO3 water types. Weathering and ion exchange are probably the main processes through which major ions enter the groundwater system