Published

2025-02-13

Application of isotopic and hydrogeochemical techniques to evaluate mixing processes in groundwater systems from a coastal area in Argentina

Aplicación de técnicas isotópicas e hidrogeoquímicas para evaluar los procesos de mezcla en sistemas de agua subterránea de una zona costera en Argentina

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15446/esrj.v28n4.115333

Keywords:

Groundwater, Aquifer, Mixing processes, Hydrogeochemistry, Water isotopes, Management (en)
Agua subterránea, acuífero, procesos de mezcla, hidrogeoquímica, Isotopos del agua, gestión (es)

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Authors

  • Jesus David Gomez Gutierrez Instituto de Geología de Costas y del Cuaternario, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata - CIC Bs As, FCEyN, Funes 3350 - Nivel 1 -, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina
  • Asuncion Romanelli Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Rodríguez Peña 4002-4100, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina
  • Leandro Bertolini Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Rodríguez Peña 4002-4100, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina
  • Orlando Mauricio Quiroz Londoño Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Rodríguez Peña 4002-4100, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina

Groundwater plays a fundamental role in supporting productive, domestic, and touristic activities in the Lobería District. In this region, two aquifers coexist: a regional aquifer (Pampeano Aquifer) and a local aquifer confined to the coastal dunes, referred to in this study as the Sand-dune Aquifer. To investigate their interaction, an End-Member Mixing Analysis (EMMA) was performed using conservative tracers, including hydrochemical data and stable water isotopes, based on measurements from 32 extraction wells. The results reveal significant groundwater exchange between the Sand-dune and Pampeano Aquifers, with notable contributions in both directions. Well G251 in the Sand-dune Aquifer receives 68% of its contribution from the Sand-dune Aquifer and 32% from the Pampeano Aquifer. Conversely, wells G1027 and G1028 in the Pampeano Aquifer have contributions of 32% and 49% from the Sand-dune Aquifer and 68% and 51% from the Pampeano Aquifer, respectively. However, stable water isotopes were ineffective as tracers for quantifying mixing due to shared recharge conditions and similar isotopic signatures. These findings enhance our understanding of groundwater interactions and provide valuable insights for the integrated management of groundwater resources.

El agua subterránea desempeña un papel fundamental para el desarrollo de actividades productivas, domésticas y turísticas en el Partido de Lobería. En esta región, coexisten dos acuíferos: un acuífero regional (Acuífero Pampeano) y un acuífero local confinado a las dunas costeras, denominado en este estudio como Acuífero Medanoso. Para investigar su interacción, se realizó un Análisis de Mezcla de Componentes Extremos (EMMA, por sus siglas en inglés) utilizando trazadores conservativos, que incluyen datos hidroquímicos e isótopos estables del agua, a partir de mediciones en 31 pozos de extracción. Los resultados revelan un intercambio significativo de agua subterránea entre los acuíferos Medanoso y Pampeano, con contribuciones notables en ambas direcciones. El pozo G251 ubicado en el Acuífero Medanoso recibe un 68% de su aporte del Acuífero Medanoso y un 32% del Acuífero Pampeano. Por el contrario, los pozos G1027 y G1028 ubicados en el Acuífero Pampeano presentan contribuciones del 32% y 49% del Acuífero Medanoso, y del 68% y 51% del Acuífero Pampeano, respectivamente. Los isótopos estables del agua no resultaron efectivos como trazadores para cuantificar la mezcla debido a condiciones de recarga compartidas y firmas isotópicas similares. Estos hallazgos mejoran la comprensión de las interacciones del agua subterránea y proporcionan información valiosa para la gestión integrada de los recursos hídricos subterráneos.

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APA

Gomez Gutierrez, J. D., Romanelli, A., Bertolini, L. and Quiroz Londoño , O. M. (2025). Application of isotopic and hydrogeochemical techniques to evaluate mixing processes in groundwater systems from a coastal area in Argentina. Earth Sciences Research Journal, 28(4), 367–377. https://doi.org/10.15446/esrj.v28n4.115333

ACM

[1]
Gomez Gutierrez, J.D., Romanelli, A., Bertolini, L. and Quiroz Londoño , O.M. 2025. Application of isotopic and hydrogeochemical techniques to evaluate mixing processes in groundwater systems from a coastal area in Argentina. Earth Sciences Research Journal. 28, 4 (Feb. 2025), 367–377. DOI:https://doi.org/10.15446/esrj.v28n4.115333.

ACS

(1)
Gomez Gutierrez, J. D.; Romanelli, A.; Bertolini, L.; Quiroz Londoño , O. M. Application of isotopic and hydrogeochemical techniques to evaluate mixing processes in groundwater systems from a coastal area in Argentina. Earth sci. res. j. 2025, 28, 367-377.

ABNT

GOMEZ GUTIERREZ, J. D.; ROMANELLI, A.; BERTOLINI, L.; QUIROZ LONDOÑO , O. M. Application of isotopic and hydrogeochemical techniques to evaluate mixing processes in groundwater systems from a coastal area in Argentina. Earth Sciences Research Journal, [S. l.], v. 28, n. 4, p. 367–377, 2025. DOI: 10.15446/esrj.v28n4.115333. Disponível em: https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/esrj/article/view/115333. Acesso em: 21 apr. 2025.

Chicago

Gomez Gutierrez, Jesus David, Asuncion Romanelli, Leandro Bertolini, and Orlando Mauricio Quiroz Londoño. 2025. “Application of isotopic and hydrogeochemical techniques to evaluate mixing processes in groundwater systems from a coastal area in Argentina”. Earth Sciences Research Journal 28 (4):367-77. https://doi.org/10.15446/esrj.v28n4.115333.

Harvard

Gomez Gutierrez, J. D., Romanelli, A., Bertolini, L. and Quiroz Londoño , O. M. (2025) “Application of isotopic and hydrogeochemical techniques to evaluate mixing processes in groundwater systems from a coastal area in Argentina”, Earth Sciences Research Journal, 28(4), pp. 367–377. doi: 10.15446/esrj.v28n4.115333.

IEEE

[1]
J. D. Gomez Gutierrez, A. Romanelli, L. Bertolini, and O. M. Quiroz Londoño, “Application of isotopic and hydrogeochemical techniques to evaluate mixing processes in groundwater systems from a coastal area in Argentina”, Earth sci. res. j., vol. 28, no. 4, pp. 367–377, Feb. 2025.

MLA

Gomez Gutierrez, J. D., A. Romanelli, L. Bertolini, and O. M. Quiroz Londoño. “Application of isotopic and hydrogeochemical techniques to evaluate mixing processes in groundwater systems from a coastal area in Argentina”. Earth Sciences Research Journal, vol. 28, no. 4, Feb. 2025, pp. 367-7, doi:10.15446/esrj.v28n4.115333.

Turabian

Gomez Gutierrez, Jesus David, Asuncion Romanelli, Leandro Bertolini, and Orlando Mauricio Quiroz Londoño. “Application of isotopic and hydrogeochemical techniques to evaluate mixing processes in groundwater systems from a coastal area in Argentina”. Earth Sciences Research Journal 28, no. 4 (February 13, 2025): 367–377. Accessed April 21, 2025. https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/esrj/article/view/115333.

Vancouver

1.
Gomez Gutierrez JD, Romanelli A, Bertolini L, Quiroz Londoño OM. Application of isotopic and hydrogeochemical techniques to evaluate mixing processes in groundwater systems from a coastal area in Argentina. Earth sci. res. j. [Internet]. 2025 Feb. 13 [cited 2025 Apr. 21];28(4):367-7. Available from: https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/esrj/article/view/115333

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