“Environmental implications of natural sources of arsenic and boron in hydrothermal bodies in the second biggest lake of México.”

Lake Cuitzeo is the second biggest lake in Mexico. It is placed in a semi-graben
structure, linked to volcanic rocks and fault systems. On the lake shoreline,
hydrothermal bodies emerge. These present arsenic and boron concentrations and
are used in thermal spas. Nevertheless, it is necessary to study the original and
behavior of these hydrothermal bodies, which provides information for the
sustainable management in order to benefit the local users.
The objective of this work is to determine the spatial distribution of the
hydrothermal manifestations, as well as their hydrogeochemical characteristics and
the temperature they reach at depth. The methodology consisted of sampling thermal wells and springs, along with laboratory determination of major ions and
trace elements. Subsequently, hydrogeochemical diagrams, isoline maps, and
geochemical indicators were used to understand their behavior. The results show
that the thermal sites have higher temperatures at depth and are associated with
the presence of faults.
Finally, the information compiled in this study may be useful for defining a safe and
feasible use of the geothermal resource for the communities inhabiting the study
area, whether for energy generation or for direct-use applications.