Exploration and Investigation of High-Level Radon Medicinal Springs in the Crystalline Units: Lugicum

Radioactive (radon) groundwaters are highly valued among mineral waters for their healing effects. Between 2005 and 2015, a large exploratory event for prospecting and documenting radon water springs took place in the crystalline area of Lugicum (Bohemian Massif) under Czech-Polish cooperation. For these purposes, an exploration method was developed as a combination of GIS (ArcMap 9.1-10.2) area preparation followed by field radiohydrogeochemical mapping at a scale of 1:10,000. The gamma indication method was optimized and used for the selection of water samples. A total of 2354 water sources were examined. Radon activity concentrations were measured at 660 sources found throughout the territory. Of those, 111 sources exhibited Rn-222 activity above 1500 Bq/L and, thus, were categorized as sources of mineral radioactive waters according to Czech legislation. The highest Rn-222 activity was found in the Michael spring near Nove Mesto pod Smrkem (up to 6237 Bq/L Rn-222). Many discovered sources with high balneological potential are significant and, therefore, are quickly becoming popular among the public.

Automated summary

Radioactive (radon) groundwaters are highly valued for their healing effects. A large exploratory event conducted in Czech-Polish cooperation discovered numerous sources of mineral radioactive waters with high radon activity concentrations. Some of these sources have significant balneological potential and are gaining popularity among the public.