Medical Hydrology and Balneology: Environmental Aspects

Mud maturation in Copahue, Argentina: the
presence of sulphur
Baschini M (1) , Pettinari G (1) , Valles J (1) , Monasterio AM (2) ,
Giménez JC (3) , López Galindo A (3) , Setti M (4)
(1) Facultad de Ingeniería. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Neuquén. Argentina
(2) Ente Provincial de Termas del Neuquén. Argentina
(3) Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra. CSIC. Granada, Spain
(4) Department Scienze della Terra e dell'Ambiente.
Università degli Studi di Pavia. Pavia. Italy
miriabaschini@yahoo.com
Introduction and Objectives
Copahue volcano is situated in the province of Neuquén, Argentina. Several geothermal
features (hot springs, ponds and fumaroles) occur in the surroundings of
Villa Copahue. The associated geothermal system causes the occurrence of singular
thermal muds that are intensively used in the Copahue Thermal Center (CTC), an
international-level thermal complex.
The natural mud have a composition rich in sulfur, as well as clay minerals kaolinite
and smectite type, which are in contact with a highly acidic liquid phase with
high salt content and dissolved gases (Baschini, et al 2010). These peloids are
extensively used for the treatment of several rheumatic, muscles, neurological and
dermatological pathologies (Monasterio and Grenóvero, 2008). The winter station
covers the entire thermal center with several meters of snow each year and turns
inaccessible the use of these materials.
The objective of this study was carried out an experimental maturation of muds
in the CTC, from regional clay minerals and acid water located near Copahue, in
order to
obtain appropriate material for therapeutic uses that can be transported out of
Copahue during the winter, and used during the winter period.
Materials and Methods
An Experimental Station was built with a wooden container with about 4000 L
of capacity, where kaolinite and smectite (APM and CATAE in proportions 75:25)
from regional deposits were mixed with natural thermal acidic waters. The pH value
of the system was about 3, the temperature was about 55º C, and water conductivity
was between 2.67 to 4.70 mS/ cm, during the experience (1 year). At different times
samples from the Experimental Station were taken and analyzed. In previous work
cationic exchange capacity, specific surface, Atterberg limits, kinetic cooling and
color were analyzed (Baschini et al, 2011). In this presentation we focus on the
Balnea
2012, núm. 6, 402-403
402
ISBN: 978-84-669-1887-0
978-84-669-3482-4