Geochemistry of Chilean Rivers Within the Central Zone: Distinguishing the Impact of Mining, Lithology and Physical Weathering

Several rivers of Chile from the latitude 30°–38° have been sampled during a stable anticyclonic period (October 2008). Firstly, our aim was to evaluate the dissolved chemical composition (major and trace elements) of poorly known central Chilean rivers. Secondly, we used a co-inertia analysis (see...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Aquatic geochemistry 2019-04, Vol.25 (1-2), p.27-48
Main Authors: Viers, J., Carretier, S., Auda, Y., Pokrovsky, O. S., Seyler, P., Chabaux, F., Regard, V., Tolorza, V., Herail, G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Carbonates
Chemical composition
Dissolved chemicals
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth Sciences
Environmental factors
Erosion
Erosion rates
Geochemistry
Heavy metals
Hydrogeology
Hydrology/Water Resources
Inertia
Lithology
Major elements
Metalloids
Metals
Mining
Neutralization
Organic chemistry
Rivers
Sedimentary rocks
Silicates
Trace elements
Trace metals
Tributaries
Volcanic activity
Volcanic rocks
Volcanoes
Water Quality/Water Pollution
Watersheds
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Summary:Several rivers of Chile from the latitude 30°–38° have been sampled during a stable anticyclonic period (October 2008). Firstly, our aim was to evaluate the dissolved chemical composition (major and trace elements) of poorly known central Chilean rivers. Secondly, we used a co-inertia analysis (see Dolédec and Chessel in Freshw Biol 31:277–294, 1994 ) to explore the possible relationships between the concentrations of elements and the environmental parameters [surface of the basin (km 2 )/mining activity (%)/average height (m)/watershed mean slope (%)/% of the surface covered by vegetation, sedimentary rocks, volcano-sedimentary rocks, volcanic rocks, granitoid rocks/erosion rate (mm/year)]. Globally, the major elements concentration could be explained by a strong control of mixed silicate and carbonate and evaporate lithology. The statistical treatment reveals that the highest metal and metalloids loads of Tinguiririca, Cachapoal, Aconcagua, Choapa, Illapel and Limari could be explained by the contribution of the mining activities in the uppermost part of these watersheds and/or by the higher geochemical background. Indeed, it remains difficult to decipher between a real mining impact and a higher geochemical background. Even if these rivers could be impacted by AMD process, the size of these watersheds is capable of diluting AMD waters by the alkaline character of tributaries that induce acid neutralization and decrease the level of metals and metalloids.
ISSN:1380-6165
1573-1421
DOI:10.1007/s10498-019-09350-1