An Integrated Approach to Characterising Sulphur Karst Springs: A Case Study of the Žvepovnik Spring in NE Slovenia

We present an integrated approach to characterizing the Žvepovnik sulphur spring, comprising detailed basic geological (mapping), geochemical (physico-chemical, elementary), isotopic (δ2H, δ18O, δ13CDIC, δ34S and 3H), microbiological analyses. used a multi-parameter determine origin of water (meteoric or deeper infiltration), carbon sulphur, retention times. Our special research interest is as springs are rare insufficiently investigated. results show that spring occurs along fault near contact between dolomite aquifer overlying shales volcanoclastic beds. The result mixing (1) waters in with gypsum anhydrite (2) shallow originating from precipitation flowing through surface carbonate aquifer. δ2H δ18O confirm local modern main source spring. δ13CDIC originates degradation organic matter dissolution carbonates. therefore propose four possible sources sulphur: most probable gypsum/anhydrite; barite may be minor sulphur; (3) microbial dissimilatory sulfate reduction; (4) oxidation pyrite least option.