engleski

Mountain Aquifers of the Northwestern Croatia

Particular geological formations cropping out on isolated mount-massifs of the northwestern Croatia attract great hydrogeological interest due to their specific lithology, physical characteristics and structural position. Hence, they are defined as mountain aquifers. These are sedimentary rock complexes, mostly undeformed or slightly deformed, that either build considerable parts of morphologically isolated mount-massifs or encircle them completely, containing exploitable ground water resources. Lithostratigraphically, sedimentary rocks that constitute mountain aquifers show wide temporal distribution as well as great petrologic diversity. Here, the two most important aquifers are presented: the Triassic and the Badenian. Hydrogeologically, the Middle and Upper Triassic dolomite-limestone aquifer is the most important. Characteristically, it is widely exposed on the surface but also takes a great part in quite complicated geological structures within the subsurface. The second most important is Badenian carbonate-clastic aquifer. It is widely exposed and distributed on the surface and in the subsurface, respectively. With regard to the great possibility of ground water exploitation both aquifers are poorly explored. The great number of springs on one hand and only few completely performed exploration works that achieved quite good results on the other, point to their considerable economic potentiality. Waters accumulated in mountain aquifers are of extremely high quality. Ecological preservation of recharge areas is on a very high level, too. The water protection is simple. Presented characteristics of mountain aquifers of the northwestern Croatia point to their strategic importance for the water supply management in the following years, especially because of an every-day increasing vulnerability of aquifers located in low-land and karst regions of Croatia.

Triassic dolomite-limestone aquifer; Badenian carbonate-clastic aquifer; high quality ground water; ecological preservation; strategic water resources

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