ǂa ǂcase study of the Žvepovnik spring in NE Slovenia
Petra Žvab Rožič (Author), Teja Polenšek (Author), Timotej Verbovšek (Author), Tjaša Kanduč (Author), Janez Mulec (Author), Polona Vreča (Author), Ljudmila Strahovnik (Author), Boštjan Rožič (Author)

Abstract

We present an integrated approach to characterizing the Žvepovnik sulphur spring, comprising detailed basic geological (mapping), geochemical (physico-chemical, elementary), isotopic (δ$^2$H, δ$^{18}$O, δ$^{13}$C$_{DIC}$, δ$^{34}$S and $^3$H), and microbiological analyses. We used a multi-parameter approach to determine the origin of the water (meteoric or deeper infiltration), the origin of the carbon and sulphur, and water retention times. Our special research interest is the origin of the sulphur, as sulphur springs are rare and insufficiently investigated. Our results show that the Žvepovnik spring occurs along the fault near the contact between the dolomite aquifer and overlying shales and volcanoclastic beds. The spring water is the result of the mixing of (1) deeper waters in contact with gypsum and anhydrite and (2) shallow waters originating from precipitation and flowing through the surface carbonate aquifer. The results of δ$^2$H and δ$^{18}$O confirm local modern precipitation as the main source of the spring. δ$^{13}$C$_{DIC}$ originates from the degradation of organic matter and the dissolution of carbonates. We therefore propose four possible sources of sulphur: (1) the most probable is the dissolution of gypsum/anhydrite; (2) barite may be a minor source of sulphur; (3) the microbial dissimilatory sulfate reduction; and (4) the oxidation of pyrite as the least probable option.

Keywords

sulphur spring;karst groundwater;hydrogeochemistry;isotopes;Slovenia;

Data

Language: English
Year of publishing:
Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization: UL NTF - Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering
UDC: 55
COBISS: 104888067 Link will open in a new window
ISSN: 2073-4441
Views: 19
Downloads: 4
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Other data

Type (COBISS): Article
Pages: str. 1-21
Volume: ǂVol. ǂ14
Issue: ǂiss. ǂ8
Chronology: 2022
DOI: 10.3390/w14081249
ID: 18594391