Abstract

In response to a request from the Secretary of Agriculture of the Department of Huila, the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum ordered, by Resolution No. 1132 of October 1958, a commission for preliminary hydrogeological studies to identify the regions of that department to be studied in greater detail later.

The field survey was carried out between 20 and 26 October, covering the northern part of the department, according to the plans of the Departmental Government. The main communication routes in the region were covered, making morphological and geological observations, as well as taking an inventory of all the cisterns in the region and collecting lithological and water samples for chemical analysis.

At the beginning of 1954, the Hydrogeology Section had submitted Report No. 996, "Groundwater studies in certain regions of the Department of Huila," corresponding to studies carried out in the southern part of the Department. The present report, which is different, is intended to complete the general information contained therein but sets out a detailed program of the investigation using boreholes making it possible to define the real possibilities of the Department in terms of groundwater.

For the preparation of this report, we have studied the existing geological literature that could contribute to the planning of hydrogeological studies in Huila. The attached geological map has been taken from the Photogeological Map of the Republic, plates M-8, M-9, and N-8 prepared by the geologist Jaime Torres and published by the Photogeology Section of the National Geological Service. This map has been specially adapted and added with field observations so that it is easily applicable to the purposes of the study.

We expressly thank the Governor of the Department of Huila, Dr. Felio Andrade, and his Secretary of Agriculture, Dr. Rafael Cuellar Lara, for their interest in the Commission, and Dr. Rafael Pizarra, Irrigation Engineer of the Secretary of Agriculture, who diligently and effectively accompanied and collaborated with us during the field work.