Isotopic and chemical composition of groundwater in the Bolivian Altiplano, present space evolution records hydrologic conditions since 11,000 Yr

The phreatic aquifer of the central Altiplano shows a Cl concentration that increases from 0.5 meq l-1 upstream to 150 meq l-1 downstream. The main outflow process from the aquifer is the upward flow E into the unsaturated zone associated to evaporation close to soil surface. A relation has been established for any arid zone areas on the base of isotopic profiles: E (mm yr-1) = 63 Z-1.5 where Z (m) is the water table depth under soil surface. The aquifer under study may have acquired its high chlorine content during last lacustrine phase (Tauca, 12 ka BP). Arguments for this hypothesis are: (i) maximum level of the lake (3780 m) higher than present soil elevation in the area, (ii) same order of salinity in the paleolake and in the more saline groundwater, (iii) weak molar ratio of Li/Cl in saline groundwater and in the Tauca, (iv) modelling of Cl transport over 11,000 years consistent with observed spatial evolution of Cl in groundwater. To this scenario, might be superimposed the assumption of a delay for the convective transfer of salt towards south by the coupled effects of accumulation of salt in the unsaturated zone by evaporation from the aquifer during thousand or so years, and of the subsequent return of this salt downwards to the aquifer during some short rainy periods. The 87Sr/86Sr, major and trace element compositions of surface and groundwater support this proposed scenario. (author)