Isotope monitoring of water appearances in salt mines: The Polish experience

Isotope analyses of water appearances in Polish salt mines started in the early 70's of the last century. Soon after it became clear that oxygen and hydrogen stable isotope composition of water creates a unique possibility of determination of the origin of waters in mines and has a crucial role in the risk assessment associated with water inflows. Chemical composition of mine waters, although useful, cannot be used to distinguish between syngenetic (safe) and meteoric (potentially dangerous) water types occurring in mines. The work provides a brief overview of isotope investigations of water appearances in four Polish salt mines (Wapno, Inowroclaw and Klodawa Salt Mines located in north-central Poland and Wieliczka Salt Mine located in southern Poland) performed over the past forty years. (authors)