Isotopic investigation of the Surdulica geothermal system.

The object of our investigation was to study a mechanism of water formation in the Surdulica geothermal system (recharge area, age and homogeneity of the waters). We collected 56 samples to determine the chemical, stable isotope, 14C and tritium content of the waters. We found large stable isotope variations in precipitation collected at different altitudes, whereas the geothermal waters are largely homogeneous and seasonally independent. Data on springs and rivers, the local meteoric water line and recharge area were obtained. Three groups of groundwater were identified by age – modern from natural springs, old from mines and very old from the Vranjska Banja. Because the initial 14C activity of infiltrated waters from the recharge area is unknown, the age of thermal waters can only be inferred, from HCO3 −, 14C and 3H content, to be 10,000 to 28,000 years old.