300
J. P. Siwek
Groundwater and stream water in the northern sedimentary part of the Polish
Tatra Mountains are characterized by a much higher TDS and conductivity than
water in the southern crystalline part of the Tatra Mountains. Mean TDS and water
conductivity in a total of 529 springs located in this part of the Tatra Mountains were
found to be, respectively: 245.1 mg/L and 254.1 µS/cm [9]. Higher TDS and conductivity were noted for springs located among formations poorly resistant to weathering and leaching—i.e. so-called Sub-Tatric Units (dolomitic limestone, limestone,
dolomite, sandstone, shale, conglomerates)—than across areas with more resistant
formations—i.e. so-called High-Tatric Units (limestone, dolomite, shale, quartzitic
sandstone) (Fig. 13.1). Streams with the highest mean water conductivity ranging
from 260 to 270 µS/cm were those whose catchments are almost fully situated atop
sedimentary formation of the High-Tatric Units and Sub-Tatric Units. Larger streams
that flow through the sedimentary part of the Tatra Range are characterized by lower
water conductivity—it is because of the fact that their springs and upstream sections
are located across the crystalline parts of the Tatra Mountains [9].
The variable geologic structure of the Tatra massif produces a strong effect on the
spatial distribution of main ion concentrations in groundwater and stream water. The
largest content disproportions between streams draining Tatra areas with different
geology occur in the case of Mg
2+ , Ca
2+ and HCO 3
− , while the smallest in the case
of Na
+ and K
+ [9]. The first trend is associated with a very large difference in calcite
(CaCO 3 ) and dolomite (CaMg[CO 3 ] 2 ) content in the formation of different tectonic
units in the Tatra Mountains. These minerals are the main source of Mg
2+ , Ca
2+ and
HCO 3
− in water. Rocks forming the crystalline Tatra core contain only trace amounts
of calcite and dolomite, as opposed to rocks forming the sedimentary part of the Tatra
massif. The second trend is the result of a relatively high proportion of minerals that
contain sodium (plagioclase, albite Na[AlSi 3 O 8 ]) as well as potassium (orthoclase
K[AlSi 3 O 8 ], muscovite KAl 2 [AlSi 3 O 10 (OH) 2 ], biotite K[AlSi 3 O 10 (OH) 2 ]) in the
crystalline rocks of the High Tatra Mountains and Western Tatra Mountains [19]. It
results in relatively high concentrations of Na
+ and K
+ in the waters of the crystalline
core. This is why differences in the concentrations of these ions in the crystalline
core’s stream water and streams flowing across the northern sedimentary part of the
Tatra Mountains are not large.
The pH of groundwater and stream water is strongly correlated with differences in
the geology of the Tatra Mountains (Fig. 13.2). The lowest pH of spring water occurs
across the crystalline core and equals an average of 6.22 [9]. The pH of water in the
crystalline part of the Western Tatra Mountains is higher than that in the crystalline
part of the High Tatra Mountains [9, 18]. The highest pH is noted for spring water in
the northern sedimentary part of the Tatra Mountains, especially for the Sub-Tatric
Units, with a mean pH value of 7.95 [9].
13.2.1.2 The Pieniny Mountains
The Pieniny Mountains are a massif formed mostly of carbonate rock—marl limestone, limestone, and marl—whose chemical composition is dominated by calcite
J. P. Siwek
Groundwater and stream water in the northern sedimentary part of the Polish
Tatra Mountains are characterized by a much higher TDS and conductivity than
water in the southern crystalline part of the Tatra Mountains. Mean TDS and water
conductivity in a total of 529 springs located in this part of the Tatra Mountains were
found to be, respectively: 245.1 mg/L and 254.1 µS/cm [9]. Higher TDS and conductivity were noted for springs located among formations poorly resistant to weathering and leaching—i.e. so-called Sub-Tatric Units (dolomitic limestone, limestone,
dolomite, sandstone, shale, conglomerates)—than across areas with more resistant
formations—i.e. so-called High-Tatric Units (limestone, dolomite, shale, quartzitic
sandstone) (Fig. 13.1). Streams with the highest mean water conductivity ranging
from 260 to 270 µS/cm were those whose catchments are almost fully situated atop
sedimentary formation of the High-Tatric Units and Sub-Tatric Units. Larger streams
that flow through the sedimentary part of the Tatra Range are characterized by lower
water conductivity—it is because of the fact that their springs and upstream sections
are located across the crystalline parts of the Tatra Mountains [9].
The variable geologic structure of the Tatra massif produces a strong effect on the
spatial distribution of main ion concentrations in groundwater and stream water. The
largest content disproportions between streams draining Tatra areas with different
geology occur in the case of Mg
2+ , Ca
2+ and HCO 3
− , while the smallest in the case
of Na
+ and K
+ [9]. The first trend is associated with a very large difference in calcite
(CaCO 3 ) and dolomite (CaMg[CO 3 ] 2 ) content in the formation of different tectonic
units in the Tatra Mountains. These minerals are the main source of Mg
2+ , Ca
2+ and
HCO 3
− in water. Rocks forming the crystalline Tatra core contain only trace amounts
of calcite and dolomite, as opposed to rocks forming the sedimentary part of the Tatra
massif. The second trend is the result of a relatively high proportion of minerals that
contain sodium (plagioclase, albite Na[AlSi 3 O 8 ]) as well as potassium (orthoclase
K[AlSi 3 O 8 ], muscovite KAl 2 [AlSi 3 O 10 (OH) 2 ], biotite K[AlSi 3 O 10 (OH) 2 ]) in the
crystalline rocks of the High Tatra Mountains and Western Tatra Mountains [19]. It
results in relatively high concentrations of Na
+ and K
+ in the waters of the crystalline
core. This is why differences in the concentrations of these ions in the crystalline
core’s stream water and streams flowing across the northern sedimentary part of the
Tatra Mountains are not large.
The pH of groundwater and stream water is strongly correlated with differences in
the geology of the Tatra Mountains (Fig. 13.2). The lowest pH of spring water occurs
across the crystalline core and equals an average of 6.22 [9]. The pH of water in the
crystalline part of the Western Tatra Mountains is higher than that in the crystalline
part of the High Tatra Mountains [9, 18]. The highest pH is noted for spring water in
the northern sedimentary part of the Tatra Mountains, especially for the Sub-Tatric
Units, with a mean pH value of 7.95 [9].
13.2.1.2 The Pieniny Mountains
The Pieniny Mountains are a massif formed mostly of carbonate rock—marl limestone, limestone, and marl—whose chemical composition is dominated by calcite