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The Hydrogeology and Utilization of Brines in El Salado, Chile
Author(s) -
Lloyd John W.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
groundwater
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.84
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1745-6584
pISSN - 0017-467X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-6584.1974.tb03003.x
Subject(s) - groundwater recharge , arid , hydrogeology , hydrology (agriculture) , groundwater , geology , brine , drainage basin , flood myth , water resource management , environmental science , mining engineering , archaeology , geography , aquifer , cartography , geotechnical engineering , paleontology , physics , thermodynamics
ABSTRACT The Rio Salado catchment is located in the southern Atacama Desert. The area is distinctly arid and no ground‐water reserves originating from local recharge exist. To obtain water for a new copper ore processing plant, brines are being utilized. The complex hydrogeology of the brines from their origin in the Andes to their emergence as springs in the vicinity of El Salado is described. The surface and ground‐water discharges indicate that the long‐term supply of brine will be adequate for the processing plant. A design for abstraction incorporating three filter drains with wooden pump‐housings has been adopted to combat corrosion, incrustation and flood damage.