Chemical and characteristics of the Rosario de la Frontera geothermal fluids, La Candelaria Range (Salta, Argentina)

AGOSTINA CHIODI; TASSI; BAEZ, WALTER; MAFUCCI R; DI PAOLO LEA; VIRAMONTE JOSÉ G.

Roma

Congreso; 86º Convegno SGI; 2012

The present study is a part of a multidisciplinary investigation of the thermal springs in the area of Rosario de la Frontera, carried out in order to produce a preliminary evaluation of geothermal potential of this system. These thermal manifestations, whose temperature varies from 22.7 to 93.3 °C, are located in the northern sector of the La Candelaria Range, Salta province, Argentina (Moreno et al. 1975). This study is based on analytical evidence of the chemical and isotopic composition (d18O, dD and d13C-CO2) of 13 water and 5 gas samples taken from the springs. The water samples shows relatively low salinity (TDS < 1000 mg/L), with the exception of 3 sources (Agua Laxante, Vicky and Salada) which are characterized by TDS values between 5500 and 30000 mg / L. All the water samples are sodium chloride composition, and 3 of them has significant concentrations of sulfate ion (up to 3000 mg / L). Samples does not show significant enrichment in ammonium ion (