Sr-87/Sr-86 in Saxon mineral and spa waters

Understanding and preserving the genesis of natural mineral and spa waters is a matter of keen interest. Under a complex analysis programme, Sr-87/Sr- 86 ratios (as well as other isotopes) were measured in such waters at vario us sites in Saxony, producing values ranging between 0.708 and 0.731. The s trontium isotope ratio was found to be closely linked to the flow patterns and variations in the chemical composition of water. The Sr-87/Sr-86 ratio can thus be used as an indicator to characterize groundwater-rock interacti on and hence the variation of flow paths. It is especially useful for diffe rentiating waters in a lithologically heterogeneous aquifer system. However , it haste be applied together with other methods and different samples fro m the same area should be compared.