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How to read hydrochemical diagrams

Which axis means what, how a sample becomes a point, and what the patterns tell you — for every diagram Hydrochart makes.

The gist

These guides explain what each diagram Hydrochart produces actually shows — which axis means what, how a sample becomes a point, and what the patterns tell you about water type, mixing and geochemical process. Every guide uses the same meq/L conventions as the plotter.

Pick a diagram

Each diagram answers a slightly different question. The Piper and Chadha plots classify water into types; Stiff and Schoeller compare samples visually; Gibbs, Durov and the bivariate plots point at the process — weathering, evaporation, mixing or ion exchange.

How to read a Piper diagramthe classic three-part plot for water-type classificationHow to read a Stiff diagrama shape fingerprint you can map across boresHow to read a Schoeller diagramcomparing many analyses on one semi-log plotHow to read a Chadha diagrama rectangular plot that flags the processHow to read a Durov diagramwater type plus pH and TDS in one figureHow to read a Gibbs diagramprecipitation, rock or evaporation controlHow to read a Bivariate plotsion ratios that test a specific processHow to read a Gaillardet diagramsilicate, carbonate or evaporite weathering sourceHow to read an HFE-D diagramseawater intrusion vs freshening in coastal aquifers

A note on units

Every diagram here works on a milliequivalent-per-litre (meq/L) basis: concentrations in mg/L are divided by each ion's equivalent weight so cations and anions can be compared and charge balance checked. Hydrochart does that conversion for you; these guides assume it's already done.

Authoritative sources & further reading

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