Application of Geostatistical Tools to the Geochemical Characterization of the Peloritani Mts (Sicily, Italy) Aquifers
1
DiSTeM, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 22, 90123 Palermo, Italy
2
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Roma 2, Via di Vigna Murata 605, 00143 Roma, Italy
3
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Palermo, Via Ugo la Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Academic Editor: Peiyue Li
Water 2021, 13(22), 3269; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13223269
Received: 24 October 2021
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Revised: 11 November 2021
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Accepted: 15 November 2021
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Published: 18 November 2021
(This article belongs to the Section Hydrogeology)
Sources of groundwater contaminants in inhabited areas, located in complex geo-tectonic contexts, are often deeply interlocked, thus, making the discrimination between anthropic and natural origins difficult. In this study, we investigate the Peloritani Mountain aquifers (Sicily, Italy), using the combination of probability plots with concentration contour maps to retrieve an overall view of the groundwater geo-chemistry with a special focus on the flux of heavy metals. In particular, we present a methodology for integrating spatial data with very different levels of precision, acquired before and during the “geomatic era”. Our results depict a complex geochemical layout driven by a geo-puzzle of rocks with very different lithological natures, hydraulically connected by a dense tectonic network that is also responsible for the mixing of deep hydrothermal fluids with the meteoric recharge. Moreover, a double source, geogenic or anthropogenic, was individuated for many chemicals delivered to groundwater bodies. The concentration contour maps, based on the different data groups identified by the probability plots, fit the coherency and congruency criteria with the distribution of both rock matrices and anthropogenic sources for chemicals, indicating the success of our geostatistical approach.
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Keywords:
dissolved CO2 partial pressure; heavy metals; water quality; Maximum Admitted Concentrations; probability plots; tectonics
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MDPI and ACS Style
Cangemi, M.; Censi, V.; Madonia, P.; Favara, R. Application of Geostatistical Tools to the Geochemical Characterization of the Peloritani Mts (Sicily, Italy) Aquifers. Water 2021, 13, 3269. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13223269
AMA Style
Cangemi M, Censi V, Madonia P, Favara R. Application of Geostatistical Tools to the Geochemical Characterization of the Peloritani Mts (Sicily, Italy) Aquifers. Water. 2021; 13(22):3269. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13223269
Chicago/Turabian StyleCangemi, Marianna, Valentina Censi, Paolo Madonia, and Rocco Favara. 2021. "Application of Geostatistical Tools to the Geochemical Characterization of the Peloritani Mts (Sicily, Italy) Aquifers" Water 13, no. 22: 3269. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13223269
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