Department Surface Waters - Research and Management

Context

Mining and metallurgical activities produce hazardous waste. The Andean region in Northern Argentina and Southern Bolivia has a unique mining history, which can be reconstructed from environmental archives, such as lagoon sediments. The wet season is short and intense and is a key driver for mobilizing contaminants into the aquatic system. The project therefore aims at characterizing the behavior of mine wastes during the wet season. On a longer time-frame we aim at reconstructing the metallurgical history using the lacustrine sediments and linking it with archaeological and historical data. Based on the findings, the project team will develop recommendations for waste management.

Approaches

On-site capillary electrophoresis measurements using a new portable instrument will allow the analysis during the rainy season. Sediment cores and waste products will be characterized with mineralogical methods.