Geochemistry of As-, F- and B-bearing waters in and around San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina, and implications for drinking and irrigation water quality

Abstract

Spring, stream and tap waters from in and around San Antonio de los Cobres, Salta, Argentina, were sampled to characterize their geochemical signatures, and to determine whether they pose a threat to human health and crops. The spring waters are typical of geothermal areas world-wide, in that they are Na-Cl waters with high concentrations of As tot , As(III), Li, B, HCO 3 , F and SiO 2 (up to 9. 49, 8.92, 13.1, 56.6, 1250, 7.30 and 57.2 mg L -1 , respectively), and result from mixing of deep Na-Cl brines and meteoric HCO 3 -rich waters. Springs close to the town of San Antonio have higher concentrations of all elements, and are generally cooler, than springs in the Baños de Agua Caliente. Spring water chemistry is a result of mixing of deep Na-Cl brines and meteoric HCO 3 waters. Stream waters are also Na-Cl type, and receive large inputs of all elements from the springs near San Antonio, but concentrations decrease downstream through the town of San Antonio due to mineral precipitation. The spring that is used as a drinking water source, and other springs in the area, have As, F and B concentrations in excess of WHO and Argentinian drinking water guidelines. Evaluation of the waters for irrigation purposes suggests that their high salinities and B concentrations may adversely affect crops. The waters may be improved for drinking and irrigation by dilution with cleaner meteoric waters, mineral 2 precipitation or by use of commercial filters. Such recommendations could also be followed by other settlements that draw drinking and irrigation waters from geothermal sources.

Community exposure and vulnerability to water quality and availability: a case study in the mining-affected Pazña Municipality, Lake Poopó Basin, Bolivian Altiplano

“…5 ). These findings agree with those of García et al ( 2010 ) and Quintanilla et al ( 2012 ) in the study area and of Tapia et al ( 2012 ) in the area north of Lake Poopó, and of Hudson-Edwards and Archer ( 2012 ) in the Argentinian Andes.…”

“…Thermal waters (see Fig. 5 ) are known to contain naturally elevated concentrations of elements of health significance (e.g., F, B, and Sb) (Stauffer and Thompson 1984 ; Hudson-Edwards and Archer 2012 ).…”

The Genesis Mechanism and Health Risk Assessment of High Boron Water in the Zhaxikang Geothermal Area, South Tibet

“…Along the flowing direction from R04 to R05 (Figure 1c), the water temperature gradually increases, and the concentration of B also increases significantly. This is consistent with the results of the influence of groundwater containing arsenic, fluorine, and boron on drinking water in Argentina studied by Hudson-Edwards et al [45].…”

Corrigendum to ‘Structural analysis and fluid geochemistry as tools to assess the potential of the Tocomar geothermal system, Central Puna (Argentina)’ [Geothermics Volume 98, January 2022, 102297]

“…It is worth noting that this area is characterized by a high As-baseline into both geothermal and surficial waters (e.g. López et al, 2012;Hudson-Edwards and Archer, 2012;Sanci et al, 2020). In addition, local factors also play an important role in the control the high As-concentration of the TCM7 sample (10,723 μg/L) due to during the ascent pathway this thermal water interacts with the As-rich Cerro Aguas Calientes ignimbrites (Salado Paz et al, 2017), a process favoured by the pH value as well as the Na-bicarbonate composition of this sample (e.g.…”