Editing Factor analysis (section)

==In physical and biological sciences==
Factor analysis has also been widely used in physical sciences such as [[geochemistry]],  [[hydrochemistry]],<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Subbarao |first1=C. |last2=Subbarao |first2=N.V. |last3=Chandu |first3=S.N. |title=Characterisation of groundwater contamination using factor analysis |journal=Environmental Geology |volume=28 |issue=4 |pages=175–180 |date=December 1996 |doi=10.1007/s002540050091 |bibcode=1996EnGeo..28..175S |s2cid=129655232 }}</ref> [[astrophysics]] and [[cosmology]], as well as biological sciences, such as [[ecology]], [[molecular biology]], [[neuroscience]] and [[biochemistry]].

In groundwater quality management, it is important to relate the spatial distribution of different chemical
parameters to different possible sources, which have different chemical signatures. For example, a sulfide mine is likely to be associated with high levels of acidity, dissolved sulfates and transition metals. These signatures can be identified as factors through R-mode factor analysis, and the location of possible sources can be suggested by contouring the factor scores.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Love |first1=D. |last2=Hallbauer |first2=D.K. |last3=Amos |first3=A. |last4=Hranova |first4=R.K. |title=Factor analysis as a tool in groundwater quality management: two southern African case studies |journal=Physics and Chemistry of the Earth |volume=29 |issue= 15–18|pages=1135–43 |year=2004 |doi=10.1016/j.pce.2004.09.027 |bibcode=2004PCE....29.1135L }}</ref>

In [[geochemistry]], different factors can correspond to different mineral associations, and thus to mineralisation.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Barton |first1=E.S. |last2=Hallbauer |first2=D.K. |title=Trace-element and U—Pb isotope compositions of pyrite types in the Proterozoic Black Reef, Transvaal Sequence, South Africa: Implications on genesis and age |journal=Chemical Geology |volume=133 |issue= 1–4|pages=173–199 |year=1996 |doi=10.1016/S0009-2541(96)00075-7 |bibcode=1996ChGeo.133..173B }}</ref>