Physicochemical and geochemical characterization of geothermal waters sedimentation tendency at Sijarinska spa and Vranjska spa (Serbia)

Abstract

A comprehensive analysis of physicochemical parameters in geothermal waters from the sites in Sijarinska spa (drill hole B-4) and Vranjska spa (drill hole VG-2) in order to investigate their tendency to form deposits in the pipe installation is presented. Drill holes B-4/VG-2 posses utilization capacity of 30/27 L s-1 with water temperatures 75/90 oC. VG-2 water does not show any tendency to (or shows very small) sedimentation compared to the B4 water. The behaviour of the geothermal water from the B-4 hole was examined in real condition in Sijarinska spa, by letting it flow through the pipe installation. The results of geochemical analysis of water B-4 show that aragonite is the predominant mineral in the sediment (98 %) with lesser amount of calcite, vaterite and anhydrite.