Evaluación geoquímica base en una reserva natural con actividad petrolera, Malargüe, provincia de Mendoza. Argentina

OSTERA, HECTOR; DAPEÑA, CRISTINA; MIRANDA, FERNANDO

Zacatecas, Mexico

Congreso; XXXIII Congress IAH & 7º ALHSUD Congress ?Groundwater flow understanding from local to regional scales; 2004

AIH y ALHSUD

The environmental impact of the industrial activities leads to a great concern about the conservation of natural resources. The Llancanelo oil field, located at Malargüe, Mendoza province, has been exploited and explored since 1930.  Sulfurous waters and gas manifestations were found near the mouth of the arroyo Carilauquen The aim of this study is to characterize the environmental baseline of the system and the origin and circulation pattern of waters by means of geochemistry and environmental stable isotopes (2H and 18O). The hidrogeochemical and isotope evidence point out to the Malargüe River infiltration westwards as the main source of recharge for Carilauquen springs. Therefore, the main flow directions are from west to east . Hydrocarbon pollution was not detected in water and values in soil are below reference levels for contaminated sites and show a distribution pattern probably associated with seepages.  These environmental parameters establish the natural geochemical and isotope background of this area, which fragile equilibrium could be endangered by human activities.