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Geological, hydrogeological, and geothermal factors associated to the origin of arsenic, fluoride, and groundwater temperature in a volcanic environment “El Bajío Guanajuatense”, Mexico

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Abstract

Arsenic and fluoride groundwater concentrations over national standards for drinking water were measured in the regional aquifer of Juventino Rosas, Guanajuato State, Central Mexico. Also anomalous temperature occurs in groundwater wells of the area. Concentrations of total dissolved solids, silica, and chloride are too low to indicate a geothermal heat source. Additionally, isotopic evidence indicates that groundwater from the studied wells is subject to an evaporation process affected by the humid weather of the zone. The chemical characteristics of the water indicate a deep circulation warm water system in normal geothermal gradient. The warm waters of Juventino Rosas are mainly of three types: Water type I: (Na–HCO3), represented by the highest temperature wells and presence of fluoride and arsenic; water type II (Na–Ca–HCO3) that represents a mixing process between water types I and III. In this group, the sample 13JR contained high concentration of F−; water type III (Ca–HCO3), represented only by one sample (Cen 2) located over the outcrop of shales, limestones, and metamorphic rocks. This sample contains the highest concentrations of sulfate, manganese, and iron. All the geological and geochemical evidences indicate that rhyolite units are the most probable source of As and F−. The area corresponds to a low-temperature and low-enthalpy system and not to a well defined geothermal system.

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Acknowledgments

The research was financed by the PAPIIT UNAM Grant, Num IN102113 and partially by the Grant 207032-2013-04 of the Centro Mexicano de Innovación en Energía Geotérmica (CeMIE-Geo), Fondo Sectorial Conacyt-Sener-Sustentabilidad Energética. CMAPAJR Juventino Rosas dwellers helped in groundwater sampling campaigns. Chemical analyses were done by Aguayo A., Ceniceros N., Cruz O., and Hernandez-Mendiola E.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria No. 3000, Col. Copilco Universidad, Delegación Coyoacán, 04510, Mexico, D.F., Mexico

    Ivan Morales

  2. Departamento de Recursos Naturales, Instituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria No. 3000, Col. Copilco Universidad, Delegación Coyoacán, 04360, Mexico, D.F., Mexico

    Ruth Esther Villanueva-Estrada, Ramiro Rodríguez & María Aurora Armienta

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  1. Ivan Morales
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  2. Ruth Esther Villanueva-Estrada
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Correspondence to Ramiro Rodríguez.

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Morales, I., Villanueva-Estrada, R.E., Rodríguez, R. et al. Geological, hydrogeological, and geothermal factors associated to the origin of arsenic, fluoride, and groundwater temperature in a volcanic environment “El Bajío Guanajuatense”, Mexico. Environ Earth Sci 74, 5403–5415 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-015-4554-9

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