“Geo-environmental integrated surveys
INTRODUCCIÓN:
to define the baseline and the source of
toxic elements in the water and stream
sediments, along the Upper Stream of
Tambo River Basin”
Shianny Vasquez1, Vicentina Cruz1, Alberto Ramírez 2
(1) Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Institute –
INGEMMET
(2) Mexican Geological Survey - SGM
Abstract:
Peru is a country with a complex
physiography due to the Andes uplift that
expose the different ore deposits. Actually
Peruvian mining produces a variety of metal
commodities and has one of the world’s
largest mining. It is the third-largest global
producer of copper, silver, zinc and tin.
Within Latin America is the largest producer
of gold, zinc, tin and lead. The importance of
this research was to determine the toxic
elements source and the current state of
surface water and groundwater all the way
from the top until it empties into the Tambo
River and assess their, that impact have the
toxic contaminants on the environment and
the human health of the surrounding
Communities and provide a management
and decision-making tool to prevent socio-
environmental conflicts. Emphasis was
placed on study design, including site
selection according geological variability
and temporal sampling to encompass
hydrological and climatic variability and
Mining environmental liabilities, for this
study were included: water, stream
sediments, rocks and mining liabilities. The
concentrations of toxic element in Ichuña
Sub basin is considered natural and
anthropogenic, is due to oxidising, natural
to alkaline pH and high salinity linked to the
lithologies in the area, hot spring and
mining waste.
Keywords: Groundwater, surface water,
stream sediment, baseline, heavy metals,
environment, source.
I.
Peru is divided into three hydrographic
basins: The Pacific Basin, the Atlantic
Basin and the Lake Titicaca Basin (Fig. 1).
The Pacific Basin is composed by
hydrographic systems composed by 62
watersheds, that are located on the
Western Slope of the Andes. Most of the
Rivers are short and very steep and
watercourses are less than 150 km long,
where are located the most important
cities with the highest Peruvian
population. The Atlantic Basin (or
Amazon Basin) composed by river
systems that are located on the Eastern
Slope of the Andes and convey water
from the highlands to the Amazon River
or a major tributary, comprising of 84
watersheds. The Lake Titicaca Basin is a
closed system that includes other sub
basins in Bolivia and ends in two lakes:
Lake Poopó and Coipasa Salt Lake and is
composed for 09 watersheds. In total, the
Peruvian territory is divided into 159 river
basins.
As resulted of the socio-environmental
conflicts between mining and
communities in Peru, the Geological
Mining and Metallurgical Institute
(INGEMMET) began since 2015 the geo-
environmental baseline surveys in Tambo
basin. This project is located in southern
Peru, between Moquegua and Puno
regions as part of the hydrographic
region of the Pacific Basin (Fig. 1). The
project area is 12900 km2, and has great
availability water potential associated to
diverse geological formations ranging
from Proterozoic to Late Quaternary
volcanic activity. The mineralization and
alteration of these Tertiary volcanoes and
hot sprint of recent volcanoes are
favorable to produce abnormalities in the
toxic elements concentrations.
 Fig. 1 Location map of Tambo watershed and Ichuña sub-basin
Part of the Upper Stream of Tambo River
Basin is the Ichuña River Basin and has
extensive mining and water potential.
There is also important potential for
groundwater, where water plays an
important role in the development of
communities and mining activity. The
preliminary results in 2015 – 2016, was in
Ichuña sub-basin (upper Tambo river
basin) in 1200 km2, between 3350 and
5250 msnm, there are 2000 residents
approximately and the mean economic
activity in this area is in farming and
animal (alpacas) breeding.
II. OBJECTIVES:
 The goal of this research is to know the
geochemical background concentration
of toxic elements present in the source
rocks, because they are the first source
of toxic elements and also affect
naturally in the surface water,
groundwater and stream sediment
quality. On the other hand, to analyze
anthropogenic factor influencing in
activities as new mining projects, active
mining, abandoned mines and towns,
which it will be able to affect the water
and stream sediment quality.
Thislayer of information is very essential
to make the sampling network,
according the objectives of the research.
 This research can be considered, as one
of the early work that is being developed
in Peru, with the objective of
implementing methodologies for
Baseline Geo-environmental regional
surveys by watersheds. For this reason,
INGEMMET will continue with their
studies in other watersheds.
 Provide a management and decision-
making tool to prevent socio-
environmental conflicts.
 In addition, it will be released to other
public and private institutions, the
development and implementation of
methodologies and results, which will
serve as a geo-scientific basis for the
management of natural resources at the
national level and manage
metals/metalloids at source or in-situ so
as to alleviate or eliminate their negative
health impact on living populations.
 III. METHODOLOGY
A sampling network was designing for the
following components: rocks, surface
water, groundwater, stream sediment and
mining environmental liabilities (Fig. 2),
taking into account the following
considerations:
- First, we identified towns or urban areas,
considering stations both upstream and
downstream.
- Second, sampling stations based on
analysis of the geologic variation,
tectonic and hydrogeological
background of the study area.
- Third, identify the areas both upstream
and downstream of the minerals deposit
(active and abandoned mines,
exploration projects, prospects and
occurrences), hot spring and active
volcanoes.
Surface water and groundwater: In the field,
the measurement was carried out “in situ”
of the physical-chemical parameters us: pH,
CE, ORP, TDS, T° and OD, performed using
multi-parameter WTW brand Model 340i
with an accuracy of ± 0.1. The sampling
A B
) )
C D
)
Fig. 2. A) Photo of the Itapallone river (Ichuña Sub-basin), B) photo of the Crucero river (ICrucero
Sub-basin), C) photo of the outcrop of the volcano center San Miguel (San Antonio Sub-basin; and
D) photo of the San Antonio river affected by mining liabilities (san Antonio Sub-basin).
technique used was the same for all stations
of surface and groundwater. All samples
were analyzed for major cations elements
(Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+,) and
trace elements by inductively coupled
plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) Nexion
300D, Perkin Elmer (EPA Method 200.8), the
anions (SO4 2−, HCO3−, Cl−) by ion
chromatography; using a Dionex ICS-2000
and the alkalinity was analyzed
volumetrically by titration with 0.1 N HCl in
the chemistry laboratory of INGEMMET.
Charge balance error of the waters is less
than 5% which is within the limits of
acceptability. (Photo A)
Stream sediment, these samples were
collected from the up part of the creek bed,
in the same station of the surface water, for
collect these samples we using a stainless
steel trowel and high-density polyethylene
(HDPE) bucket. Next step, samples were air-
dried and re-sieved in the laboratory for
homogenization and the granulometric
fraction -200. Metal analyses for stream
sediment were conducted by SGS
Laboratories in Lima, Peru. Metals are
digested in acid (“aqua regia”) on a hot plate
and diluted to a known volume with distilled
water. The diluted digest is analyzing using
ICP-MS Nexion 300D, Perkin Elmer (EPA
Method 200.8) to identify the total
concentrations of 52 elements. Data were
deemed acceptable if the relative standard
deviation of duplicate run samples was
within 15%. (Photo B).
Rock, before rock sampling should plan the
lithological mapping - structural, based on
the geological map, the geomorphological
map, the map of spectral anomalies ASTER
images and map inventory of mines and
projects. Geochemical analyses of rocks
were did for major elements by sodium
peroxide fusion by ICP-MS/AES, to trace and
REE elements by lithium metaborate fusion
by ICP-MS/AES. The mineralogical analysis
by X-ray diffraction and optical microscopy.
(Photo C).
Mining environmental liabilities, for the
sampling collected of mining tailings and
dumps, we need doing composite samples
and single samples (depth of each sample is
10 cm from the surface). Laboratory tests
are: Test leachate generation (SPLP), test to
generate acid water (ABA), higher elements,
trace element and total metals by ICP-MS
and mineralogical analysis by X-ray
diffraction. (Photo D).
QA/QC samples consisted of field
duplicates, whites and standards, which
were collected from the same stations area
immediately following collection of the
iginal sample.
Geochemical dataset, the general
geochemistry is indicated for the major
element, which are incorporated in the
statistics analysis, they are cations: Ca, K,
Mg and Na, and anions: HCO3, SO4 and Cl in
waters; also it is important to include some
trace element associated whit the altered
rock, deposit mineral and regulated the
discharge by state (DS:015-2015-MINAM)
regulation included: Al, As, B, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe,
Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sr, Ti, U and Zn. For
waters, data for dissolved (filtered)
constituents were used, and other relevant
parameters like to pH, EC and T. For stream
sediments we considered de same element
than the water. In the case of the water, the
analysis based on site characteristics were
conducted on semiannual samples (n=336),
which had greater spatial covered.
Statistical analysis, to evaluate the
analytical data for determined baseline
values for the water and stream sediments,
was evaluated differences in geochemistry
conditions relative to underlying geology
and human activities. Summary statistics
content: minimum, maximum, mean,
median, standard deviation, quartiles,
threshold and Environmental quality
standards of water and soil, according to
National Legislation (D.S. N° 015-2015-
MINAM and D.S. N° 002-2013-MINAM). For
non-detect data has used the Substitution
method (e.g. 1/2 DL). Sites were compared
on the basis of their locations relative to the
ore deposit, volcanic centers, hot-springs,
abandoned mines (upstream/downstream)
and on underlying geological units.
VI. RESULTS
In the sub-basin Ichuña, two field campaigns
were conducted. The first in the dry season
(September - October, 2015) and the
second in rain season (April-May 2016),
where the following information was
obtained, and its detail is shown in Table 1.
For this research, first was elaborated the
geological-structural mapping, with
emphasis on the classification of lithological
units focused on their chemical
composition. To do this, 252 rock samples
were collected throughout the subbasin
Ichuña (upper part of the river basin
Tambo), resulting in the lithological map
(Fig. 3-A), which will form the basis for
research.
 Table 1: Fieldwork in the sub-basin Ichuña (upper part of the river basin Tambo).
Type of sample Amount Chemical Analysis Seasonal sampling
Total and dissolved metals: ICP-MS (37 element)
Dry Season (Set. - Oct, 2015)
Surface water 121 Anions: Ion Chromatography: SO4 2− and Cl−
Rain Season (Set. - Oct, 2016)
Alkalinity: Titration
Total and dissolved metals: ICP-MS (37 element)
Dry Season (Set. - Oct, 2015)
Groundwater 39 Anions: Ion Chromatography: SO4 2− and Cl−
Rain Season (Set. - Oct, 2016)
Alkalinity: Titration
Stream Sediments 124 Total metals: ICP -MS Dry Season (Set. - Oct, 2015)
Major elements: ICP-OES
Rocks 252 Dry Season (Set. - Oct, 2015)
Trace and REE elements: ICP-MS
Test leachate generation: SPLP
Dry Season (Set. - Oct, 2015)
Mining waste 7 Test to generate acid water: ABA
Rain Season (Set. - Oct, 2016)
Trace element and total metals by ICP-MS
areas, finally sodium chloride water (13%)
1. Lithological Map: related with hot springs.

The lithological map joints the rocks
according to their nature; and which
cartography represents in individually form
each lithology, or in associated shape when
it has a homogenous alternation. Five
lithological groups were identified: the
hypabyssal, sedimentary, volcanic and
volcano-sedimentary units, quaternary
deposits, and the volcanic centers that are
affected by hydrothermal alterations,
presenting zones with presence of oxides,
clays and sulphides, which play an
important role in the chemical composition
of water in these sectors (Fig. 3a). (Cereceda
et al., 2016).
2. Hydrochemistry:
The figure 3b, also shows the hydrochemical
characterization of the ground and surface
waters according to their major
components as cations: Ca2+, Mg2+, Na2+
and K2+; and anions: HCO3−, SO4 2− and Cl-
. Highlighting three important groups:
calcium bicarbonate waters (42%)
associated with sedimentary and volcano -
sedimentary units; calcium-sodium
sulphate waters (45%) associated with
volcanic units and hydrothermal alteration
In general, in the Ichuña sub-basin, the pH
of surface and groundwater maintains a
close to relationship with the type of rock
where they circulate. Thus, the acid
drainage and high iron content are due to
rock-water interaction in the zones of
oxidation associated to redox reaction;
where the pyrite reacts with the water and
atmosphere oxygen causing the release of
the hydrogen ion, producing acid waters
with high sulphate ion, consequently
generate the leaching of heavy metals and
toxic elements introducing in the water
component (Fig. 3c).
In this context, the origin, content and
mobility of heavy metals in surface and
groundwater occurs mainly in the type of
sulphated water by processes of water- rock
interaction, and divided into three groups
according to pH (Fig. 3c). The first group,
correspond to pH (2-3) high acid and high
concentration of heavy metal, this type of
water circulates by volcanic rocks
associated with processes of hydrothermal
alteration (Chucapaca Volcanic Center).
(a)
Fig. 3 (a) Lithology map with the surface and groundwater, and stream sediment sampling sites for the Ichuña Sub-basin.
(b) Piper diagram with samples of surface water and groundwater. (c) Heavy metals concentration of (mgL) relative to
pH. In the waters in the Ichuña sub-basin.
The second group correspond two types of
water: first to pH (3-5.5) acid and high heavy
metals and second to pH acid and low heavy
metals, in the first type are present the
groundwater come from of the mining
waste (bocamine San Antonio); and the
second type corresponds to groundwater
and surfer water flowing through by
volcanic rocks associated with processes of
hydrothermal and meteoric alteration.
Regarding the third group corresponds
waters to neutral to basic pH (5.5 to 8),
where have two types, the first it is pH near
neutral and high heavy metals and the
second is pH near neutral and low metals; in
the first type are present surface water
from the mining liabilities (San Antonio
river) and the second type, is where most of
the bicarbonate and Chlorinated waters are
found.
(b)
(c)
3. Stream Sediment:
The stream sediments were taken in the dry
season (2015), in the same monitoring
stations of superfiales waters (rivers and
streams). Doing a total of 124 samples
throughout the Ichuña sub-basin. To
evaluate the analytical data for finding
source of pollutants has used principal
component analysis (PCA). In our study
multivariate analysis was performed by
using SPSS 19 by Windows, with rotation
method: Normalization Varimax with
Kaiser. The study revealed five factor (Table
2): PC1, PC2, PC3, PC4 and PC5 for stream
sediment data were elucidated the total
variance of 21.7%, 18.1%, 14.8%, 13.9% and
10.7% respectively. The study also revealed
that PC1 (Fig. 4a) was positively loaded with
the Li, Ca, Mg, B, Sr, Rb y K, which were
mostly distributed in the majority of the
samples and correspond to being lithophile
materials associated to the lithological unit
III (volcanic and volcano-sedimentary (great affinity to form sulphides), but also
rocks). The PC2 in the database set it was siderophile (great affinity to form metallic
positive loaded with heavy metals such as iron), these elements would be associated
Cd. Zn, Pb, Mn, Cu and Sb might be With volcanic centers with hydrothermal
originated by geogenic source and it was alteration and presence of sulphides (Fig.
associated to epithermal deposits which are 5d), could be originated by geogenic
in the upper part of the San Antonio and sources.
Ichuña micro-watersheds (Fig. 4b), would
also be being inflated by the abandoned (a) (b)
tailings along the San Antonio River. All
these elements are chalcophiles and
present a great affinity with the sulfur to
form sulphides. Respect to PC3, it is
positively charged Ti, V, NA, Al and Cr, are
mostly rare earth elements, which
according to the geochemical classification
of Goldschmidt 1923, would conform the
group of elements lithophile, by their (c) (d)
affinity to form silicates associated with the
lithological unit III (Fig. 4c). The PC4, have
high loading on Th and U, these rare earth
elements were associated to the lithological
unit V (Fig. 4d), where the volcanic rocks
with hydrothermal alteration and presence
of mineral deposits are found. Finally PC 5,
positively charged by S, As, Sb, Mo and Fe,
most correspond to chalcophile materials (e) Fig. 4 Map showing the
spatial distribution by
Table 2: Factor loading plots for different
sum factorial coefficient
principle components.
of the main components
PC1 PC2 PC3 PC4 PC5
Li .846 Cd .941 Ti .914 Th .861 S .831
of the elementary
Ca .805 Zn .939 V .873 U .748 As .745 correlations of the
Mg .787 Pb .923 Na .750 Rb .407 Sb .575 factors: PC1 (a), PC2 (b),
B .774 Mn .862 Al .559 Mo .271 Mo .545 PC3 (c), PC4 (d) and PC5
Sr .735 Cu .622 Cr .510 Sr .257 Fe .527 (e).
Rb .731 Sb .597 Sr .494 Sb .207 U .304
K .666 As .252 Mg .377 K .187 Cu .285
Al .466 Na .219 Ca .271 B .172 Rb .209
Ni .425 Cr .203 Fe .201 Mn .143 Th .206
4. Mining Liabilities
Na .410 Ca .164 Zn .184 S .134 Al .200
As .325 Ni .163 Cu .116 As .122 Pb .165 Abandoned mines (bocamine, waste and
U .323 S .162 Li .095 Ca .105 Zn .146
Th .245 Mo .151 Cd .071 Na .083 Sr .106
tailings) are mainly located along the San
Cu .207 B .117 Ni .068 Ti .036 Mn .084 Antonio river, from the upper part to the
Cd .159 Fe .103 Mo .042 Pb -.047 Cd .080 lower-middle part of this micro-basin. The
Mn .159 K .101 Pb .030 Zn -.083 B .035
Mo .122 V .082 Mn -.001 Cd -.087 Li .029 samples of the solid residues present a
Cr .048 Ti .077 Th -.009 Mg -.251 V .025 similar mineralogy with the epithermal
V .045 Rb .062 B -.039 Li -.260 Mg -.058
Zn -.031 Th .058 Sb -.121 Al -.291 Ca -.095
mineral deposits of low sulfuration, such as:
Ti -.079 Sr .051 U -.140 V -.297 K -.112 galena, sphalerite, argentite, chalcopyrite,
Pb -.124 U .048 S -.149 Cu -.490 Na -.148
S -.221 Mg -.027 As -.178 Cr -.511 Ni -.151
pyrite, stibine, quartz, an important
Sb -.335 Li -.182 Rb -.314 Fe -.549 Ti -.177 secondary mineral present is jarosite the
Fe -.467 Al -.295 K -.475 Ni -.764 Cr -.248 same as Pyrite and chalcopyrite would be
one of the causes of acidic water generation
and the mobilization of heavy metals such
as SO4, Cd, Mn, Pb, Zn and As (Fig 5)
Tailings
Waste
Fig. 5. Concentration of total metals in SPLP
leachate (mg/L) in tailings and mining waste.
Fig. 6. Maps showing concentrations of selected
elements in water in April 2015. All the elements are
in mg/L. Symbol bins are divided into statistical
summary (four evenlysized group)
5. Variation among sites
The site distribution of selected dissolved
element in the water is shown in the Fig. 6
and the element for the stream sediments
is shown in the Fig. 7. Waters and stream
sediments were compared by lithological
units and by location relative of the deposit
mineral, abandoned mines and towns.
Comparisons of locations relative to the
volcanic centers with hydrothermal
alteration consisted of two analyses, the
first comparing upstream and reference
sites to downstream sites, and the second
Fig. 7. Maps showing concentrations of selected
elements in stream sediments in April 2015. Fe is in
%; all others are in ppm. Symbol bins are divided
into statistical summary (four evenlysized group)
comparing reference volcanic rocks with
hydrothermal alterations and volcanic,
sedimentary and volcano-sedimentary
rocks without hydrothermal alteration.
For the case of As and B, in the samples of
waters are mainly associated with the
thermal sources and to a lesser extent
associated to volcanic centers with
hydrothermal alteration, however in the
stream sediments are concentrated in
relation to the volcanic centers with
alteration Hydrothermal.
In relation to the Cd, Mn, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn,
in the water samples and stream sediment,
there are higher concentrations of these
elements associated to the volcanic centers
with hydrothermal alteration and presence
of mineral deposits. Lower concentrations
of these elements are associated with
volcanic and volcano-sedimentary rocks
(without hydrothermal alteration). It is
noteworthy for the case of Mn, there is a
higher concentration of this element in
waters than in stream sediments. However,
the highest concentrations of Pb and Cd in
the water are punctual and are associated
with the volcanic center Chucapaca and the
abandoned mines of San Antonio de
Esquilache. Symbol bins are divided into
statistical summary according Table 3 and 4.
6. Baseline values
Finally, the geo-environmental baseline for
the water and the current sediments for
each element shown in Table 3 and 4, for
waters and current sediment respectively,
were taken, the samples were taken in the
years 2015 and 2016.
The baseline is given as a range of values,
including the minimum, maximum, mean,
median standard deviation and threshold of
the data collected in this study.
The national standards of environmental
quality for water (category 3) and soils were
added to this table in order to be able to
compare elements that exceed those
standards.

Analyte Units DL ADL %ALD Min. 1Q Median Mean 3Q Max. SD T ECA Water (Cat. 3)
T °C -- 163 100 0.4 9.1 11.7 11.8 14.1 50.6 4.10 15.9
pH Units -- 163 100 2.6 6.9 7.5 7.2 8.0 9.3 1.32 8.6 6,5 – 8,5
EC US/cm -- 163 100 34.7 166.4 301.9 675.9 659.1 55000 1028.99 1704.9 2500.00
HCO3 mg/L 1 163 100 0.5 30.0 74.0 75.5 105.5 1731 53.10 128.6 518.00
Cl mg/L <0.2 163 100 0.1 0.6 1.1 6.6 5.8 13102 10.65 17.2 --
SO4 mg/L <0.02 163 100 3.7 18.0 64.2 111.3 205.6 2010.5 110.20 221.5 1000.00
Na mg/L <0.004 163 100 1.0 3.7 7.4 15.4 22.0 8212.7 18.85 34.3 --
Mg mg/L <0.02 163 100 0.5 4.4 9.5 11.8 17.1 130.5 10.01 21.8 --
K mg/L <0.02 163 100 0.5 1.9 3.1 4.7 5.0 462.4 4.88 9.6 --
Ca mg/L <3.0 163 100 1.5 12.8 27.4 38.0 54.2 554.7 31.62 69.6 --
Sr mg/L <0.0004 163 100 0.0005 0.08 0.17 0.28 0.40 25.8 0.27 0.55 --
Li mg/L <0.0004 143 87 0.0002 0.002 0.006 0.012 0.020 19.4 0.015 0.027 2.50
Al mg/L <0.0005 135 82 0.00025 0.006 0.013 0.023 0.038 103.0 0.029 0.052 5.00
As mg/L <0.0002 103 63 0.0005 0.0005 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.70 0.004 0.007 0.10
B mg/L <0.05 88 54 0.025 0.025 0.07 0.11 0.20 24.2 0.11 0.220 1.00
Cd mg/L <0.0002 26 16 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0002 0.0001 0.08 0.0004 0.0006 0.01
Cr mg/L <0.001 32 19 0.0005 0.001 0.001 0.0016 0.001 0.1 0.002 0.0036 0.10
Cu mg/L <0.0005 132 80 0.00025 0.0005 0.001 0.001 0.0016 0.8 0.0007 0.0018 0.20
Fe mg/L <0.01 99 60 0.005 0.005 0.01 0.025 0.028 139.3 0.033 0.058 5.00
Mn mg/L <0.0002 148 91 0.0001 0.001 0.014 0.044 0.046 121.2 0.074 0.12 0.20
Mo mg/L <0.0002 99 60 0.0001 0.0001 0.0003 0.0006 0.0008 0.02 0.0007 0.0013 --
Ni mg/L <0.0007 90 55 0.00035 0.00035 0.0008 0.0013 0.0015 0.12 0.0014 0.0027 0.20
Pb mg/L <0.0005 11 7 0.00025 0.00025 0.00025 0.00028 0.00025 0.2 0.0002 0.0005 0.05
Sb mg/L <0.0008 17 10 0.0004 0.0004 0.0004 0.0004 0.0004 0.01 0.0001 0.0006 0.02
Ti mg/L <0.0006 147 90 0.0003 0.0008 0.0013 0.0017 0.002 0.02 0.0014 0.003 --
U mg/L <0.0001 97 59 0.00005 0.00005 0.0002 0.00030 0.0004 0.02 0.0003 0.0006 --
V mg/L <0.0005 91 55 0.00025 0.00025 0.0007 0.00093 0.0012 0.009 0.0009 0.0018 --
Zn mg/L <0.001 125 77 0.0005 0.0005 0.002 0.0034 0.0047 30.1 0.004 0.008 2.00

Table 3: Summary statistics for selected elements in waters (n= 150) in this study. Table includes detection limits (DL),
percentage of data below detection limits (%BDL), minimum (Min), first quartile (1Q), third quartile (3Q), maximum
(Max), standard deviation (SD), threshold (T) and Environmental quality standards of water (ECA water Cat. 3).
Analyte Units DL ADL %ALD Min. 1Q Median Mean 3Q Max. SD T ECA_Soil
Na % 124 100 0.01 0.05 0.10 0.12 0.14 0.48 0.10 0.22 --
Mg % 124 100 0.05 0.28 0.44 0.48 0.57 1.86 0.30 0.78 --
K % 124 100 0.11 0.22 0.26 0.27 0.32 0.64 0.09 0.36 --
Ca % 124 100 0.07 0.50 0.95 1.06 1.45 4.65 0.75 1.81 --
Sr ppm 124 100 15.7 64.0 103.5 118.6 156.1 741.0 78.35 196.95 --
Li ppm <1 123 99 0.5 8.0 14.0 14.5 18.0 107.0 9.9 24.40 --
Al % 124 100 0.53 1.17 1.37 1.43 1.65 2.82 0.42 1.85 --
As ppm 124 100 2 8 28 31.7 44.0 316 26.36 58.01 50.0
B ppm <10 78 63 5.0 5.0 5.0 12.0 13.2 55.0 8.2 20.18 --
Cd ppm 124 100 0.04 0.2 0.4 1.2 1.5 23.2 1.7 2.91 1.4
Cr ppm 124 100 6.0 11.0 16.5 20.9 23.0 121.0 16.15 37.05 --
Cu ppm 124 100 12.10 24.42 30.35 34.30 41.27 139.60 16.52 50.82 --
Fe % 124 100 1.21 2.23 2.96 2.94 3.49 10.80 0.94 3.88 --
Mn ppm 124 100 151.0 694.3 968.0 1220.4 1598.3 4770.0 800.5 2020.90 --
Mo ppm 124 100 0.49 1.52 1.98 2.16 2.64 6.77 1.02 3.18 --
Ni ppm 124 100 3.30 8.45 14.45 16.34 19.45 128.00 10.79 27.13 --
Pb ppm 124 100 6.30 11.90 19.95 25.33 27.87 708.60 18.59 43.92 70.0
S % <0.01 117 94 0.01 0.03 0.06 0.10 0.10 1.09 0.11 0.21 --
Sb ppm 124 100 0.08 0.34 0.74 1.36 1.37 100.80 1.43 2.79 --
Rb ppm 124 100 8.1 15.5 21 22.7 28.5 55.2 9.3 32 --
Ti % <0.01 118 95 0.005 0.02 0.05 0.05 0.07 0.16 0.03 0.08 --
Th ppm 124 100 1.70 3.92 5.60 5.62 7.00 11.70 2.10 7.72 --
U ppm 124 100 0.26 0.65 0.92 1.04 1.36 3.21 0.53 1.57 --
V ppm 124 100 14.0 39.3 55.0 60.0 72.0 138.0 27.11 87.08 --
Zn ppm 124 100 31.0 54.3 82.5 132.3 152.1 4329.0 120.1 252.5 --

Table 4: Summary statistics for selected elements in stream sediments (n = 124) in this study. Table includes
detection limits (DL), percentage of data below detection limits (%BDL), minimum (Min), first quartile (1Q), third
quartile (3Q), maximum (Max), standard deviation (SD), threshold (T) and Environmental quality standards of Soil
(ECA Soil).
V. CONCLUSIONS: presence of hot springs (Jesus Maria,
Ichuña and Calazaya), which discharge
The provenance of the heavy and toxic their waters directly into the main
elements in the Ichuña sub-basin is mainly riverbed of the Ichuña river, significantly
due to three origins, the first two sources increasing the salinity and electrical
are natural concentrations, but the third is conductivity in the water (As, B, Cr, Cl,
an anthropic source. Fe).

 The first natural source is that
groundwater and surface waters flow
through andesitic lavas, which are
strongly fractured, altered and silicified,
due to the emplacement of the volcanic
centers (Chucapaca, San Miguel and
Millo) composed of heavily fractured
riolitic domes and altered by the
magmatic activity that interacts with the
surface conditions (phreatic water),
generating hydrothermal systems near
the surface are likely to be leaching
processes and therefore the transport of
heavy and toxic metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd,
Mm, Fe, Co).
 The second natural source of the toxic
elements in this sub-basin is the
 The third source of heavy and toxic
elements in the water is a consequence
of mining liabilities, especially tailings
and dumps (Pb, Zn, Cd, As, Fe, Mn),
located in river beds (San Antonio de
Esquilache). This source corresponds to
anthropogenic contamination.
KNOWLEDGMENTS
A special thanks to the reviewer of the Dr.
Robert Seal II who is principal research U.S.
Geological Survey, for their opinions,
helpful comments and his teachings, in the
early stages of this investigation. Also, I
would like to thanks to Dra. Miriam Mamani
and Eng. Lionel Fidel, for their valuable
support and Accurate suggestions in the
review of the work performed.
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