Arsenic in volcanic geothermal fluids of Latin America
Article
Article Title | Arsenic in volcanic geothermal fluids of Latin America |
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ERA Journal ID | 3551 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Lopez, Dina L. (Author), Bundschuh, Jochen (Author), Birkle, Peter (Author), Armienta, Maria Aurora (Author), Cumbal, Luis (Author), Sracek, Ondra (Author), Cornejo, Lorena (Author) and Ormachea, Mauricio (Author) |
Journal Title | Science of the Total Environment |
Journal Citation | 429, pp. 57-75 |
Number of Pages | 19 |
Year | 2012 |
Publisher | Elsevier |
Place of Publication | Netherlands |
ISSN | 0048-9697 |
1879-1026 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.08.043 |
Web Address (URL) | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969711009119 |
Abstract | Numerous volcanoes, hot springs, fumaroles, and geothermal wells occur in the Pacific region of Latin America. These systems are characterized by high As concentrations and other typical geothermal elements such as Li and B. This paper presents a review of the available data on As concentrations in geothermal systems and their surficial discharges and As data on volcanic gases of Latin America. Data for geothermal systems in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Chile are presented. Two sources of As can be recognized in the investigated sites: Arsenic partitioned into volcanic gases and emitted in plumes and fumaroles, and arsenic in rocks of volcanic edifices that are leached by groundwaters enriched in volcanic gases. Water containing the most elevated concentrations of As are mature Na-Cl fluids with relatively low sulfate content and As concentrations reaching up to 73.6mgL -1 (Los Humeros geothermal field in Mexico), but more commonly ranging from a few mgL -1 to tens of mgL -1. Fluids derived from Na-Cl enriched waters formed through evaporation and condensation at shallower depths have As levels of only a few μgL -1. Mixing of Na-Cl waters with shallower meteoric waters results in low to intermediate As concentrations (up to a few mgL -1). After the waters are discharged at the ground surface, As(III) oxidizes to As(V) and attenuation of As concentration can occur due to sorption and co-precipitation processes with iron minerals and organic matter present in sediments. Understanding the mechanisms of As enrichment in geothermal waters and their fate upon mixing with shallower groundwater and surface waters is important for the protection of water resources in Latin America. |
Keywords | arsenic; geothermal fluids; geothermal system; Latin America; volcanic fluids; ground water; organic matter; surface water |
Contains Sensitive Content | Does not contain sensitive content |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 370799. Hydrology not elsewhere classified |
370512. Volcanology | |
410404. Environmental management | |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | Ohio University, United States |
National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture | |
Electrical Research Institute, Mexico | |
National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico | |
Army Polytechnic School, Ecuador | |
Palacky University Olomouc, Czech Republic | |
University of Tarapaca, Chile | |
Higher University of San Andreas, Bolivia | |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q1654/arsenic-in-volcanic-geothermal-fluids-of-latin-america
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