Non-parametric Statistical Analysis and Spatial Distribution of the Regional Geochemical Data of the Okiep Copper District,Namaqualand,South Africa:Implications for Anthropogenic Influence and Risk Assessment

The Okiep Copper District is the oldest mining district in South Africa with a legacy of more than 150 years of mining.This legacy can be felt in the presence of large tailings dams scattered throughout the area.These tailings have a deleterious impact on the surrounding environment.To use geochemical methods in determining the scale of the impact, pre-mining background levels need to be determined. This is especially difficult in areas for which