A new technical report confirms the presence of aluminum, copper, and arsenic in fish from the Cuesta del Viento dam in northern San Juan, originating from mining activities. Analyses conducted by the National University of Cuyo detected alarming concentrations in the liver and gills of dead silversides:
- Aluminum: up to 2,464 mg/kg in the liver.
- Copper: 49 mg/kg.
- Arsenic: 14 mg/kg.
- Cadmium: more than 5.7 mg/kg.
Biologists conclude that the massive mortality recorded in November 2025 is due to a chronic exposure to metals and metalloids present in the aquatic system, dismissing the official hypothesis of oxygen deficiency.
Sustained Contamination
The study compared water data between 2005 and 2026 and found an exponential increase in aluminum and boron in the Jáchal River. Aluminum rose from 0.1 mg/l in 2005 to 7.4 mg/l in 2026, an increase of 7,400%. Arsenic appears as the most persistent and widespread contaminant.
Researchers point to the La Palca River as a hydrological corridor transferring metals from the Veladero mine to the rest of the basin. It is worth noting that 2005 coincides with the start of the mine’s exploitation.
Spills and Background
The Veladero mine, operated by Barrick Gold and Shandong Gold, has accumulated at least nine chemical spills in 15 years. The most severe occurred in 2015, when more than a million liters of cyanide-contaminated water were spilled, affecting five rivers and the same Cuesta del Viento dam.
The UN warned that the lack of action by the Government and the company “puts communities and the environment at serious risk.” However, no individuals or authorities have been convicted for the incidents.
Impact on Health and Consumption
Analyses revealed that fish muscles also contain metals above the limits set by Senasa:
- Aluminum: up to 545 mg/kg (limit: 250 mg/kg).
- Copper: more than 15 mg/kg (limit: 10 mg/kg).
- Arsenic: present at levels above the permitted limit.
Despite this, there were no official warnings to avoid consuming the fish, which are part of the local diet and the tourist promotion of the dam.
Complaints and Silences
The Jáchal No Se Toca Assembly denounces complicity of municipal, provincial, and national governments. They claim that the “Safe Water” ordinance, which requires periodic water monitoring, is not being enforced. In 2024 and 2025, almost no analyses were conducted, despite million-dollar budgets.
Additionally, they point to censorship in public media like Radio Nacional, which prevented the dissemination of the results. “We are denied the human right to water and justice,” say the residents.
The Veladero case exposes a scenario of sustained contamination with heavy metals, impacts on public health, and lack of institutional responses.
While the mine continues to operate and receives benefits from the Incentive Regime for Large Investments, the population of Jáchal denounces that it has been turned into a sacrifice zone.
Source: Tierra Viva News Agency
