Geochemistry of Hot Springs at Cundinamarca Department, Colombia

Abstract

A preliminary geochemical study of hot springs from the Cundinamarca department was carried out in the frame of an inventory of hot springs. This study consisted of the characterization of 52 springs from which 42 are thermal springs. The distribution of these springs shows a tendency to increase their temperature towards the East of the Department, reaching a maximum of 73.6?C at Paratebueno municipality.
Low temperature resources were identified in Cundinamarca, which heat source is likely the normal geothermal gradient. The highest geothermal gradients (between 50 and 60?C/km), classified as mesothermal, were estimated for the geothermal areas of Gachet·, Tabio, Tibirita and Paratebueno municipalities (at the East of the department).
The springs show high variability in composition, between sweet and saline waters, which reach 15.700 mg/l of total dissolved solids. A contribution of saline and low temperature source is identified in the springs of highest total dissolved solids contents, located at the municipalities of YacopÌ, ?tica and La Calera.
From the diversity in composition of the springs of Cundinamarca, an important potential for utilization in thermalism, is inferred. Unspecific, bicarbonate, chloride and sulfate waters could be utilized for balneotherapy purposes. Some of these springs also could be used as natural mineral water for bottling.
This work was carried out through the geothermal exploration project of INGEOMINAS, during 2003.