Tritium and 14C dating of Sudetic thermal waters

Slightly minearalized thermal waters occurring in Carboniferous granite (Cieplice-Western Sudetes) and in Precambrian gneisses (Ladek-Central Sudetes) have been investigated. The less warm waters from some springs in Cieplice show considerable tritium and 14C concentrations, which indicates the presence of admixtures of water from modern, local precipitations. On the other hand, the warmest (400C) waters from springs and boreholes are ''dead'' as far as tritium is concerned and their 14C age may be evaluated as 21-28 thousands years. All thermal spring waters in Ladek though characterized by relatively low temperatures (20-290C), do not contain tritium and their 14C age is included within the range of 6-18 thousands years. Cool water from a 600 m deep borehole contains, however, little amounts of tritium and much more 14C than the spring waters. It may be considered as a much younger one. (author)