Evaluation of Soils Contained in Mineral Tailings at Junin Lake

The Junin National Reserve is located between the provinces of Junin and Pasco, Sierra Central, high land of Peru. It was analyzed 20 samples from different geographic locations soil of the Reserve. The results showed us that there are pollutants minerals very harmful to the environment because of some of the centers miners deposited the tailings in the vicinity of the nature reserve. The techniques used for characterization of mineralogical soil were: neutron activation analysis, x-ray fluorescence and spectroscopy mossbauer by transmission. The analysis done by the method of X-ray fluorescence indicate the presence of Rubidium, tungsten, calcium, iron, nickel, copper, zinc, gold and zirconium. With spectroscopy mossbauer technique was observed the presence a higher proportion of paramagnetic iron; while thanks to neutron activation analysis, besides these elements, it was observed the presence of Molybdenum, Manganese and a high concentration of arsenic. The Junin National Reserve is a natural area located in the central part of Peru, 4100 meters over the sea level and an area of 540 Km 2 . In this reserve we can find the Junin Lake (named Chinchaycocha in Incas languaje), which is the second largest lake in Peru. The Junin Lake is characterized by a great variety of birds (approximately 149 species), mammals, fish, frogs (highly prized for their meat), and an emerging and submerged vegetation that compose unique in the world. The main economic activities of the native communities are livestock and agriculture, however the negative impact of the mining activities have generated a socio-environmental conflict between the mining companies and the native communities that live near San Juan river and Junin lake, because of contamination since 75 years and there is no an appropriate technical mechanism for stabilization of the contaminants of the affected area. These are the reasons for the present study, in order to be able to contribute and improve the physical and chemical conditions for the recovery of thousands of hectares affected; options for removing sediment, bioremediation, stabilization and vegetation, can be adapted after a thorough feasibility study on costs and environmental effects