Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Unabated acid mine drainage from Cerro Rico de Potosí, Bolivia: uncommon constituents of concern impact the Rio Pilcomayo headwaters

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Intensive mining and processing of the polymetallic sulfide ore body of Cerro Rico de Potosí (Bolivia) has occurred since 1545, leading to severe degradation of surface and subsurface waters, stream sediments, and soils at the headwaters of the economically vital, yet highly impacted, Rio Pilcomayo. Previous studies have documented extremely elevated concentrations of a limited suite of metals in local waterways from acid mine drainage (AMD), terrestrial and in-stream tailings, and ore processing plant discharges. However, contamination from a wider variety of ecotoxic metals/metalloids was considered likely due to the highly mineralized polymetallic nature of the ore body. To screen for this broader range of ecotoxic elements in AMD and receiving streams, data were gathered during two sampling events timed for the most extreme periods of the dry and wet seasons of one water-year. Concentrations of Ag, B, Ba, Mo, Sb, Se, Sn and V in AMD and receiving streams were greater than Bolivian discharge limits and receiving water body guidelines as well as international agricultural use standards. Locally, results indicate that contamination from mining Cerro Rico has a larger scope than previously thought and underscore the importance of remediation. Globally, the results raise the possibility that other mining regions could have unquantified hazards from overlooked ecotoxic elements and that screening for a broader range of contaminants may be warranted.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbot MB, Wolfe AP (2003) Intensive Pre-Incan metallurgy recorded by lake sediments from the Bolivian Andes. Science 301:1893–1895

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Archer J, Hudson-Edwards KA, Preston DA, Howarth RJ, Linge K (2005) Aqueous exposure and uptake of arsenic by riverside communities affected by mining contamination in the Río Pilcomayo basin. Bolivia. Mineral Mag 69(5):719–736

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ǻström ME, Nystrand M, Gustafsson JP, Österholm P, Nordmyr L, Reynolds JK, Peltola P (2010) Lanthanoid behaviour in an acidic landscape. Geochim Cosmochim Ac 74:829–845

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ayers RS, Westcot DW (1994) Water quality for agriculture. United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, USA

  • Bakewell P (1984) Miners of the Red Mountain: Indian Labor in Potosí, 1545–1650. The University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartos PJ (2000) The pallacos of Cerro Rico de Potosí, Bolivia: a new deposit type. Econ Geol Bull Soc 95:645–654

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolivian Ministry of Sustainable Development and Planning (BMSDP) (2000) Ley del Medio Ambiente, No. 1333

  • Bolivian National Meteorology and Hydrology Service (BSNMH) (2003) Meteorological bulletin of the department of Potosí

  • Cheng KL, Zhu D (2005) On calibration of pH meters. Sensors 5:209–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Choque P (2007) Evaluacion del grado de contaminacion minera en las aguas, de la micro cuenca Vilacollu Mayu. Masters Thesis. Universidad Autónoma de “Tomás Frías” Potosí, Bolivia

  • Cunningham CG, Zartman RE, McKee EH, Rye RO, Naeser CW, Sanjines VO, Ericksen GE, Tavera VF (1996) The age and thermal history of Cerro Rico de Potosi, Bolivia. Mineral Deposita 31:374–385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eltahir EAB, Yeh PJF (1999) On the asymmetric response of aquifer water level to floods and droughts in Illinois. Water Resour Res 35(4):1199–1217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaillardet J, Viers J, Dupré B (2003) Trace elements in river waters. In: Holland HD, Turekian KK (ed) Treatise on geochemistry, vol 5. Elsevier, Amsterdam

  • Garcia-Guinea J, Harffy M (1998) Bolivian mining pollution; past present and future. Ambio 27(3):251–253

    Google Scholar 

  • Garrido AE, Condori J, Strosnider WH, Nairn RW (2009) Acid mine drainage impacts on irrigation water resources, agricultural soils, and potatoes in Potosí, Bolivia. (Billings, MT May 30–June 5, 2009). National meeting of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation

  • Godoy RA (1984) Ecological degradation and agricultural intensification in the Andean highlands. Hum Ecol 12(4):359–383

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hillman J (1984) The emergence of the tin industry in Bolivia. J Lat Am Stud 16:403–437

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hudson-Edwards KA, Macklin MG, Miller JR, Lechler PJ (2001) Sources, distribution and storage of heavy metals in the Rio Pilcomayo, Bolivia. J Geochem Explor 72:229–250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johannesson KH, Zhou Z (1999) Origin of middle rare earth element enrichments in acid waters of a Canadian High Arctic lake. Geochim Cosmochim Ac 63:153–165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kossoff D, Hudson-Edwards K, Dubbin WE, Alfredsson M (2008) Incongruent weathering of Cd and Zn from mine tailings. Mineral Mag 72(1):81–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kossoff D, Hudson-Edwards K, Dubbin WE, Alfredsson M (2012) Major and trace metal mobility during weathering of mine tailings: implications for floodplain soils. Appl Geochem 27:562–576

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindgren W, Creveling JG (1928) The ores of Potosi, Bolivia. Econ Geol 23(3):233–262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lofstrom W (1970) Attempted economic reform and innovation in Bolivia under Antonio Jose de Sucre, 1825–1828. Hisp Am Hist Rev 50:279–299

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller JR, Lechler PJ, Hudson-Edwards KA, Macklin MG (2002) Lead isotopic fingerprinting of heavy metal contamination, Rio Pilcomayo basin, Bolivia. Geochem Explor Env A 2:225–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller JR, Hudson-Edwards KA, Lechler PJ, Preston D, Macklin MG (2004) Heavy metal contamination of water, soil and produce within riverine communities of the Rio Pilcomayo basin, Bolivia. Sci Tot Env 320:189–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nordberg GF, Fowler BA, Nordberg M, Friberg LT (eds) (2007) Handbook on the toxicology of metals, 3rd edn. Elsevier Academic Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Olías M, Cerón JC, Fernández I, De la Rosa J (2005) Distribution of rare earth elements in an alluvial aquifer affected by acid mine drainage: the Guadiamar aquifer (SW Spain). Environ Poll 135:53–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Protano G, Riccobono F (2002) High contents of rare earth elements (REEs) in stream waters of a Cu–Pb–Zn mining area. Environ Pollut 117:499–514

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rice CM, Steele GB (2005) Duration of magmatic hydrothermal and supergene activity at Cerro Rico de Potosi, Bolivia. Econ Geol 100:1647–1656

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smolders AJP, Guerrero Hiza MA, Van der Velde G, Roelofs JGM (2002) Dynamics of discharge, sediment transport, heavy metal pollution and sábalo (Prochilodus lineatus) catches in the lower Pilcomayo river (Bolivia). River Res Appl 18:415–427

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smolders AJP, Lock RAC, Van der Velde G, Medina Hoyos RI, Roelofs JGM (2003) Effects of mining activities on heavy metal concentrations in water, sediment, and macroinvertebrates in different reaches of the Pilcomayo river, South America. Arch Environ Con Tox 44:314–323

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smolders AJP, Hudson-Edwards KA, Van der Velde G, Roelofs JGM (2004) Controls on water chemistry of the Pilcomayo river (Bolivia, South-America). Appl Geochem 19:1745–1758

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stassen MJM, Preeker NL, Ragas AMJ, van de Ven MWPM, Smolders AJP, Roeleveld N (2012) Metal exposure and reproductive disorders in indigenous communities living along the Pilcomayo River, Bolivia. Sci Tot Env 427–438:26–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strosnider WH, Nairn RW (2010) Effective passive treatment of high-strength acid mine drainage and raw municipal wastewater in Potosí, Bolivia using simple mutual incubations and limestone. J Geochem Explor 105:34–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strosnider WHJ, Llanos López FS, Nairn RW (2011a) Acid mine drainage at Cerro Rico de Potosí I: unabated high-strength discharges reflect a five century legacy of mining. Environ Earth Sci 64:899–910

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strosnider WHJ, Llanos López FS, Nairn RW (2011b) Acid mine drainage at Cerro Rico de Potosí II: severe degradation of the Upper Rio Pilcomayo watershed. Environ Earth Sci 64:911–923

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strosnider WH, Nairn RW, Ríos Montero H, Llanos Pinto F (2011c) Water quality impacts from in-stream mine tailings in Rio Tarapaya, Potosí, Bolivia. (Bismarck, ND June 11–16, 2011). National meeting of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation

  • Strosnider WH, Winfrey BK, Nairn RW (2011d) Novel passive co-treatment of acid mine drainage and municipal wastewater. J Environ Qual 40:206–213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strosnider WH, Winfrey BK, Nairn RW (2011e) Biochemical oxygen demand and nutrient processing in a novel multi-stage raw municipal wastewater and acid mine drainage passive co-treatment system. Water Res 45:1079–1086

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strosnider WHJ, Nairn RW, Peer RAM, Winfrey BK (2013) Passive co-treatment of Zn-rich acid mine drainage and raw municipal wastewater. J Geochem Explor 125:110–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stumm W, Morgan JJ (1996) Aquatic chemistry—chemical equilibria and rates in natural waters, vol 3. Wiley-Interscience, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun H, Zhao F, Zhang M, Li J (2012) Behavior of rare earth elements in acid coal mine drainage in Shanxi Province, China. Environ Earth Sci 67:205–213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tandeter E (1981) Forced and free labour in Late Colonial Potosí. Past Present 93:98–136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tyler G (2004) Rare earth elements in soil and plant systems—a review. Plant Soil 267:191–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wexler P (2005) Encyclopedia of toxicology, vol 2. Academic Press, Massachusetts

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (WHO) (2006) Guidelines for drinking-water quality, 3rd edn

  • Zartman RE, Cunningham CG (1995) U-Th-Pb zircon dating of the 13.8-Ma dacite volcanic dome at Cerro Rico de Potosí, Bolivia. Earth Planet Sci Lett 133:227–237

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Elias Puch of the Universidad Autónoma de “Tomás Frías”, Yoichi Matsuda of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, Hugo Arando of the Centro de Investigación Minero Ambiental, and Patrick M. Stack aided greatly in field work and gathering local information. Engineers Lionel Villarroel Gonzales, Mirko Kirigin, Huascar Beltrán, Franz Mamani, and Primo Choque provided important data, logistical support, materials and contacts, without which this study would have been impossible. Thanks are due to Kristina Johnson Strosnider of Natural Biodiversity Inc. for cartographic assistance. The Saint Francis University Center for Watershed Research & Service as well as the University of Oklahoma Center for Restoration of Ecosystems and Watersheds supported this work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Engineering Program, Center for Watershed Research & Service, Saint Francis University, 117 Evergreen Drive, Loretto, PA, 15940, USA

    W. H. J. Strosnider

  2. Department of Mining Engineering, Universidad Autónoma “Tomás Frías”, Potosí, Potosí, Bolivia

    F. S. Llanos López

  3. Center for Restoration of Ecosystems and Watersheds, School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science, 334 Carson Engineering Center, 202 W. Boyd St., Norman, OK, 73019, USA

    J. A. LaBar

  4. Environmental Engineering Program, Saint Francis University, 117 Evergreen Drive, Loretto, PA, 15940, USA

    K. J. Palmer

  5. Center for Restoration of Ecosystems and Watersheds, School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science, University of Oklahoma, 334 Carson Engineering Center, 202 W. Boyd St., Norman, OK, 73019, USA

    R. W. Nairn

Authors
  1. W. H. J. Strosnider
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. F. S. Llanos López
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. A. LaBar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. K. J. Palmer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. R. W. Nairn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to W. H. J. Strosnider.

Electronic supplementary material

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Strosnider, W.H.J., Llanos López, F.S., LaBar, J.A. et al. Unabated acid mine drainage from Cerro Rico de Potosí, Bolivia: uncommon constituents of concern impact the Rio Pilcomayo headwaters. Environ Earth Sci 71, 3223–3234 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2734-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2734-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation