A contribution to the understanding of hydrochemical properties of thermo-mineral water on the L’dži locality (eastern part of North Macedonia)

Abstract

Regarding the aspect of mineral, thermo-mineral, and thermal waters, on the territory of the Republic of North Macedonia, there are 65 registered locations, of which 8 are categorized as spas. This includes the Kežovica spa, also known as the Štipska spa. In the vicinity of Kežovica Spa is the thermo-mineral L’Dži spring with mineralization around 1.3 g/L and the water temperature at the time of sampling was 50.1°C. Spring L’Dži is generated by a fault structure and is linked to a granite massif of Mesozoic age. These are alkaline waters (pH=8.3) and the hydrochemical type is chloride-sodium. Regarding the trace elements, the water of the L’Dži spring contains a large amount of boron and silica. Water also contains an increased content of arsenic (200 µg/L) and tungsten (169 µg/L). Elevated concentrations of As and W are characteristic of alkaline thermal waters in reducing conditions. Often elevated concentrations of Mo are accompanied by elevated concentrations of As and W, which is also the case.