Factor analysis in hydrochemical survey

Abstract

When subjected to factor analysis, the analytical data of water samples of the Calabar Flank area was transformed into factor score sets that are considered most consistent with known geological and environmental processes, and appropriate to the limits of analytical precision. Factor I reflects geochemical interactions of transported foreign materials with those occurring within the study area. Factor 2 reflects weathering & decompositions of rock materials occurring within the study area. Factor 3 reflects the oxidation of sulphide minerals occurring within the study area, and Factor 4 clearly indicates contributions from atmospherical precipitation. The present contribution demonstrates that factor analysis statistical reduction technique compresses bulk geochemical data into factor score groups that correspond to distinguishable controlling environmental factors.


KEY WORDS: Environmental Factors, Hydrochemistry, Multivariate Statistics, Factor Analysis, Calabar Flank

[Global Jnl Geol. Sci. Vol.1(2) 2003: 105-112]