This study was objected to identify the difference of water quality and the characteristics of water contamination in adjacent bed-rock areas of Upper Hwajeonni and Guryongsan Formations in Miwon, Choongchungbuk-do, Korea. Water samples showed mainly ...
This study was objected to identify the difference of water quality and the characteristics of water contamination in adjacent bed-rock areas of Upper Hwajeonni and Guryongsan Formations in Miwon, Choongchungbuk-do, Korea. Water samples showed mainly (Ca, Mg)-$HCO_3$ type in Upper Hawjeonni Formation and (Ca, Mg)-$SO_4$ and (Ca, Mg)-$HCO_3$ types in Guryongsan Formation indicating the enrichment of $SO_4$ in major compositions. Groundwater quality could be divided into two groups based on the major weathering processes, implied by the ratio of bicarbonate to silica. Carbonate-silicate weathering predominates in Upper Hwajeonni Formation, and silicate weathering in Guryongsan Formation. Stream-water quality also appeared to be controlled by water-rock interaction. Cluster analysis identified three groups of groundwater and four groups of stream-water with distinctive geochemical characteristics. The results of factor analysis indicated that the levels of each chemical constituent in water samples derived from both natural weathering reactions and anthropogenic contamination sources. To delineate the pollution potential of water resources, Modified Pollution Index(M.P.I.) was developed. M.P.I. scores of water samples ranged from -0.08 to 0.18, with mostly positive along the rock quarry in Guryongsan Formation areas. M.P.I. scores appeared to be a useful predictor of metal contamination of water resources.