A STATISTICAL APPROACH FOR IDENTIFICATION OF CHEMICAL GROUPINGS OF ELEMENTS IN SWEDISH ROCKS WITH SPECIAL FOCUS ON ARSENIC AND SULPHUR

Sammanfattning: Groundwater analyses have revealed high concentrations of the toxic element arsenic around Stockholm and Mälardalen, a problem that often is linked to high levels of arsenic in the bedrock and which could be escalated by the many construction projects in the same region. However, it is unknown what part of the bedrock is causing the contamination. The aim of this thesis is to identify the chemical elements that associate with arsenic and study how the rock types differ in their content of elements and compounds. The highest median concentration of arsenic is found in quartz-feltspar-rich sedimentary rock, while intrusive rock types reveal the lowest levels. Using cluster analysis, arsenic is placed in a group including nine other elements, to which the strongest correlations are found with antimony, bismuth and silver. A moderate correlation with sulphur is also observed. The associations between groupings of elements are analysed using measures of dependence, which reveal relatively strong associations. Dimension reduction and ordination techniques provide further insight to the typical appearances of elements and reveal two groups of similar rock types.