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eISSN: 2083-5906
ISSN: 1230-1485
ISSN: 1230-1485
ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Mechanisms of Hydrochemical Evolution
and Water Quality Evaluation in Shallow
Groundwater of Xutuan Coal District,
Anhui, China: A Multi-Method Approach
1
School of Resources and Civil Engineering, Suzhou University, Suzhou, 234000, Anhui, China
2
Coal Industry Engineering Research Center for Exploration and Early Warning of Mine Water Disaster, Anhui
University of Science and Technology, 232000, Huainan, Anhui, China
3
School of Environment and Surveying and Mapping Engineering, Suzhou University, Suzhou, 234000, Anhui, China
Submission date: 2026-02-06
Final revision date: 2026-03-12
Acceptance date: 2026-03-31
Online publication date: 2026-07-30
Corresponding author
Jiying Xu
School of Resources and Civil Engineering, Suzhou University, Suzhou, 234000, Anhui, China
School of Resources and Civil Engineering, Suzhou University, Suzhou, 234000, Anhui, China
KEYWORDS
shallow groundwaterhydrochemical characteristicsEntropy Weight Water Quality Index (EWQI)coal mining areawater-rock interaction
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
This study investigates the hydrochemical characteristics of the shallow phreatic aquifer in the
Xutuan coal mining area, Anhui, China, based on 20 collected water samples. A comprehensive
analysis was conducted using techniques such as Piper trilinear plots, ionic ratios, Principal Component
Analysis, and Entropy Weighted Water Quality Index (EWQI). The results show that the groundwater
pH ranges from 0.05 to 8.89 (mean 5.08), indicating weak acidity; TDS varies from 96.09 to 1397.46
mg/L (mean 278.58 mg/L), classifying it as freshwater. The dominant cations are Na+ and K+ (mean
1834.08 mg/L), and the dominant anion is HCO3‒ (mean 4792.08 mg/L). The main hydrochemical facies
is SO42‒ HCO3‒-Na+ K+. Analysis of ionic composition and Gibbs diagrams reveals that the chemical
evolution of groundwater is primarily influenced by water-rock interactions, including evaporative
concentration, silicate weathering, and cation exchange processes. The EWQI assessment indicates that
85% of the samples meet Class II or III water quality standards (EWQI range: 38.5-120.4). While overall
groundwater quality is acceptable, the quality in the local third aquifer layer is comparatively inferior,
necessitating increased monitoring efforts. This study provides a scientific basis for groundwater
environmental protection and sustainable water resource management, contributing to the long-term
management of groundwater in coal mining areas.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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| eISSN: | 2083-5906 |
| ISSN: | 1230-1485 |
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