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Uranium in the Groundwater of Permo-Triassic Aquifers of the Visok Region, Stara Planina, Eastern Serbia

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Abstract

An elevated concentration of uranium in the water of some springs in the Permo-Triassic sedimentary rocks of the Visok region, south-eastern slopes of the Stara Planina, eastern Serbia, is interpreted based on geological, hydrogeological and hydrochemical data. Uranium concentration in groundwater was first examined whilst exploring for uranium minerals as an energy resource. The purpose of a later hydrogeological investigation was assessment of a safe drinking water supply to a planned ski-centre hotel. The maximum contaminant level for uranium, recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), is 15 μg/L. This work reviews and interprets the naturally elevated uranium in springs from the Permo-Triassic sediments of Visok, focusing on geological, hydrogeological, hydrogeochemical and other factors of uranium contamination. Uranium distribution in groundwater from Permo-Triassic aquifers was studied by taking groundwater, spring sediment and rock samples. The varied mobility of uranium depends largely on lithology, which also controls the chemistry of groundwater. The investigation results have shown that sulfate–calcium groundwater is a suitable facilitator of uranium mobility with a high migration coefficient of 0.77. Uranium concentrations in this water were up to 41 μg/L, with a Sa/Sr mass ratio of around 20, and a mineral content of about 0.5 g/L. The hydrochemistry was characteristically transitional Eh and pH neutral. Elevated uranium in groundwater has been reported globally and may be compared.

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Acknowledgement

This research work is part of Project 146021 (Geological and Ecotoxicological Investigations in Identification of Geopathogenic Zones of Toxic Elements and Natural Radioactivity in Drinking Water) funded by the Serbian Ministry of Science and Environment. Geological investigation in the Visok region was funded by the Ministry of Mineral and Energy Resources of Serbia; it is one of various multidisciplinary projects aimed at the discovery of uranium mineral deposits for energy production.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Forestry, University of Belgrade, Kneza Viseslava 1, 11030, Belgrade, Serbia

    Zoran Nikic

  2. Geological Institute of Serbia, Rovinjska 12, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia

    Jovan Kovacevic

  3. Faculty of Mining and Geology, University of Belgrade, Djušina 7, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia

    Petar Papic

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  1. Zoran Nikic
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  2. Jovan Kovacevic
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  3. Petar Papic
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Correspondence to Zoran Nikic.

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Nikic, Z., Kovacevic, J. & Papic, P. Uranium in the Groundwater of Permo-Triassic Aquifers of the Visok Region, Stara Planina, Eastern Serbia. Water Air Soil Pollut 192, 47–58 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-008-9633-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-008-9633-z

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