GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND QUALITY ASSESSMENT - OF WATER AND SOIL IN THE VICINITY OF PACHWARA CENTRAL COAL MINE, AMRAPARA, PAKUR (JHARKHAND)

Abstract

An investigation on quality of mine water, ground water and river water has been carried out in Pachwara coal mine located in northern bank of river Bansloi at Amarapara block of Pakur district in Jharkhand to determine the major contaminants, their spatial variations, possible source (geologic or anthropogenic), pathways and receptors. Pachwara basin is the part of integral Rajmahal master basin, concealed beneath thick piles of basic volcanics and Gangetic alluvium. Sixteen water samples of different sources have been taken for investigation of water quality. Water samples were analysed for pH, EC at the field, major ions viz., Na", Ca2, K, Mg2, Cl-, S042, F, NO3, C032, HCO3 by ion chromatography equipment and trace elements viz., Fe, Ni, Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn, and Ba using Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (lCP-AES). Piper diagrams and other graphical displays were plotted for major ions to understand the variations of groundwater quality. pH values indicate weakly acidic water around the mine. Facies analysis indicates that major water samples predominantly Ca-Na cation and HCO3-Cl-SO4 anion type. Some mine water exclusively at core zone, indicating Cl-SO4-HCO3 anion type. A comparison of the results of trace elements of water samples with BlS and IS:10500 guidelines show that the water samples are heavily contaminated with trace elements like Fe, Cd, Pb, and Cu exceeding permissible limits. Trace elements variations was quantified and presented with spatial variation maps prepared by ArcGlS 9.3.1. Pachwara mine is the source of Fe, Cd and Pb. River Bansloi water contains high amount of Cu, Fe, Cd and Ni. Mine waters were less contaminated with Ni but having high values at river water at downstream near Amarapara town showing exclusively anthropogenic source. River Bansloi acts as the major carrier of many trace elements viz., Fe, Cu, Cd and Pb.