The Influence of the Unsaturated Zone on the High Fluoride Contents in Groundwater in the Middle Voltaian Aquifers- The Gushegu District, Northern Region of Ghana

The Influence of the Unsaturated Zone on the High Fluoride Contents in Groundwater in the Middle Voltaian Aquifers- The Gushegu District, Northern Region of Ghana

This study was aimed at determining the origin of elevated fluoride content of groundwater in parts of the Gushegu District of the Northern Region of Ghana. Hydrochemical data from a total of 19 groundwater samples and porewater were analyzed to establish hydrochemical trends which would indicate the major causes of variation in the hydrochemistry. R-mode factor and hierarchical cluster analyses were jointly applied to the data. Three major sources of variation, accounting for over 76% of the total variance in the dataset were revealed. This study establishes that silicate mineral weathering may be the major factor influencing groundwater hydrochemical variation in the area.