Fluid geochemistry of a deep-seated geothermal resource in the Puna plateau (Jujuy Province, Argentina)

The Paleozoic basement is considered to be the primary source of Li.

“The Paleozoic basement is also considered to be the primary source of Li (Egenhoff and Lucassen, 2003;Peralta Arnold et al., 2017;García et al., 2019;Meixner et al., 2019).”

Other studies have reported Li isotopic data showing that volcanic and Paleozoic basement rocks represent the primary source for Li in the Andean plateau.

“As already mentioned in section 5.1.,other studies have reported Li isotopic data showing that volcanic and Paleozoic basement rocks represent the primary source for Li in the Andean plateau (Egenhoff and Lucassen, 2003;Peralta Arnold et al., 2017;García et al., 2019;Meixner et al., 2019).”

Recent investigations on isotopic systematics show that the primary sources of Li in the Andes, including what is supplied by hydrothermal springs, are restricted varieties of lithologies of the Paleozoic basement that underlies the plateau.

“However, as discussed in section 5.1, thanks to recent investigations on isotopic systematics, it is now apparent that the primary sources of Li in the Andes, including what is supplied by hydrothermal springs, are restricted varieties of lithologies of the Paleozoic basement that underlies the plateau (Egenhoff and Lucassen, 2003;Peralta Arnold et al., 2017;García et al., 2019;Meixner et al., 201”

Based on δ18O-H2O and δD-H2O values and the altitude fractionation factor, the recharge area can be recognized at the intercept between the LMWL and the evaporation line fitting the investigated waters, corresponding to an altitude ranging from 5000 to 5500 m a.s.l.

“Based on the δ 18 O-H 2 O and δD-H 2 O values (Table 1) and considering the δ 18 O-H 2 O fractionation factor due to the altitude (À 2.62 units per 1000 m; Peralta Arnold et al., 2017), the recharge area can be recognized at the intercept between the LMWL and the evaporation line fitting the investigated waters, corresponding to an altitude ranging from 5000 to 5500 m a.s.l.”

The Rosario headwaters include several hydrothermal springs in different parts of the catchment areas.

“The Rosario headwaters include several hydrothermal springs in different parts of the catchment areas (Peralta Arnold et al., 2017, Fig. 1).”

The strong Li enrichment in thermal springs connected to the Rosario River is ascribed to enhanced rock leaching, including peraluminous volcanic rock and ignimbrites both characterized by high Li concentrations.

“which were ascribed to enhanced rock leaching (Peralta Arnold et al., 2017), including peraluminous volcanic rock and ignimbrites both characterized by high Li concentrations (Borda et al., 2019;Sarchi et al., 2019).”

Thermal springs that have a hydrological connection with the Rosario River (Rosario de Coyaguayma, Pairique, and Cono Panizo) have strong Li+ enrichment, up to 29 mg/L.

“A strong Li þ enrichment was also measured (up to 29 mg/L) in thermal springs that have a hydrological connection with the Rosario River (Rosario de Coyaguayma, Pairique, and Cono Panizo)”