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Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 2002; v. 198; p. 215-239;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.2002.198.01.14
© 2002 Geological Society of London

Contaminant source characterization of the San José Mine, Oruro, Bolivia

David Banks1,4, Wayne Holden3, Eduardo Aguilar2, Carlos Mendez2, David Koller2, Zelmar Andia2, Javier Rodriguez2, Ola Magne Sæther4,5, Armando Torrico2, Renato Veneros6 & Jorge Flores6

1 Holymoor Consultancy, 86 Holymoor Road, Holymoorside, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S42 7DX, UK
2 URS Dames & Moore (Bolivia), Avenida Santa Cruz #1344, Piso 1, Cochabamba, Bolivia
3 URS Dames & Moore (UK), St. George’s House (2nd Floor), 5 St. George’s Road, Wimbledon, London SW19 4DR, UK
4 Seconded to URS Dames & Moore Norge, Kirkebakken 8, N-4012 Stavanger, Norway
5 Norges Geologiske Undersøkelse, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway
6 Corporación Minera de Bolivia, La Paz, Bolivia

The San José Mine is a mothballed Ag-Sn mine near Oruro on the Bolivian Altiplano. A groundwater risk assessment has been carried out considering: (i) the current mine water pumping operation; (ii) potential future mine flooding; and (iii) mine waste leachate, at risk sources. Mine flooding rates have been simulated using two models (MIFIM and MODFLOW), with input data based on the observed water inflow distribution and calculated mine volumes. Mine water chemistry has been characterized by field analyses. Transport of contaminants in groundwater in the Quaternary sedimentary aquifer complex surrounding the mine has been assessed by empirical data and hydraulic-geochemical modelling using MODFLOW and MPATH. Empirical and modelled data suggest that no risk is (or will be) posed to Oruro’s public water supply wellfields at Challapamapa. Continued pumping and discharge of mine water poses a potential risk to surface water recipients and private groundwater abstractions located alongside these.