Factor analysis applied to a geochemical study of suspended sediments fromthe Gediz River, western Turkey

Suspended sediment particles collected from 33 sampling points at a site lo cated close to industrial and geological areas in Gediz river, western Turk ey were analysed for 15 elements (Ca, Ti, Mn, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Ba, La, Ce , Ra, U, Th and K-40) by Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF), Gamma Spectroscopy (GS), and Collector Chamber Method (CCM). Both va rimax and oblimin factor rotations were applied to the data, but varimax ro tated factor analysis was used for source identification of suspended sedim ents. Three factors were extracted from the suspended data, which account f or about 70% of the total data variance. These factors are interpreted as e conomy, mine and radioactivity/mine/agriculture.