Comparison of the 14C activity of groundwater and recent Tufa from Karst areas in Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia

Abstract

ABSTRACT. 14C activity of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in water and in recent tufa samples in several karst areas of Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia was measured. Groundwater from 11 karst springs were measured for their isotopic content (14C, 3H, 13C), chemical composition (HCO3, Cat+, Mgt+) and physico-chemical properties (temperature, pH). Seasonal variations of the 14C activity of DIC in two karst springs in Plitvice Lakes area, Yugoslavia, were measured systematically from 1979 -1987.14C activity of recent tufa samples from several locations downstream were also measured. The activity of DIC in karst spring water in both countries ranged from 63-87 pMC, which is attributed to differences in geologic structure of the recharge area, topsoil thickness and composition. Grouping of 1 C activities of DIC ca (82±4)% is evident. Tritium activity at all the springs indicated short mean residence time (1-10 yr). Concentration of HCO3, Caz+ and Mg2+ in spring water varied with geomorphology. '4C activity of streamwater and recent tufa increased downstream from karst springs due to the exchange between atmospheric CO2 and DIC.

Early and mid-holocene environmental conditions in the eastern Adriatic recorded in speleotherms from Mala Špilja cave and Velika Špilja cave (Mljet island, Croatia)

“…Late Holocene stalagmites from Modrič Cave (Croatia) studied by Rudzka et al (2012) showed alternating δ 18 O c and δ 13 C c variations and changes in the stalagmite diameters which were linked to periods of drier and wetter conditions. Tufa and speleothems deposition in Croatia deposited 6000 years ago were described by Krajcar Bronić et al (2006), Horvatinčić et al (1989Horvatinčić et al ( , 2000Horvatinčić et al ( , 2003Horvatinčić et al ( , 2008 and Surić and Juračić (2010). Precipitation and fresh water studies from several continental and coastal meteorological stations (Horvatinčić et al 2005;Vreča et al 2006;Surić et al 2010;Barešić et al 2011;Rudzka et al 2012;Roller-Lutz et al 2013;Hunjak et al 2013) …”

Towards a Deeper Understanding of How Carbonate Isotopes (14C, 13C, 18O) Reflect Environmental Changes: A Study with Recent 210Pb-Dated Sediments of the Plitvice Lakes, Croatia

“…Previous studies of the Plitvice Lakes focused on the processes of tufa/lake sediment precipitation using chemical and isotopic methods (SrdoË et al 1985;HorvatinËiÊ et al 1989HorvatinËiÊ et al , 2003. Determination of the initial 14 C activity of DIC in water and tufa/lake sediments (Krajcar BroniÊ et al 1986 as well as carbon isotope exchange processes in downstream flow (SrdoË et al 1986b;HorvatinËiÊ et al 2003) were completed in connection with the 14 C dating of carbonate deposits.…”

Characterization of tufa from the Dinaric Karst of Croatia: mineralogy, geochemistry and discussion of climate conditions

“…( , 1986Srdoč et el. ( , 1994, Sobat et al (1985), Emeis et al (1987), Chafetz et al (1994), Horvatinčić et al (1989Horvatinčić et al ( , 1996Horvatinčić et al ( , 1999Horvatinčić et al ( , 2000. These works concentrated on age determination, of stable isotopes (d 13 C and d 18 O), and on saturation index of calcite to explain tufa formation.…”