Statistical treatment of data: a helpful tool for tracing geochemical processes

In order to evaluate contaminants potential of the tailings of “Schneckenstein” Germany, as well as their association with minerals, elemental analysis was carried out using X-ray fluorescence equipment. The results of the statistical treatments of data show relations between the elements and minerals. Based on factor and cluster analysis, most of the elements were not altered during the ore processing. Besides uranium, As, Cu, Zn, and Pb are elements being tackled by the treatment. The anthropogenic source of most amount of Ba was proven by means of cluster analysis.