Problemy badań izotopowych polskich złóż siarki

Abstract

PROBLEMS OF ISOTOPE STUDIES OF THE POLISH SULPHUR DEPOSITSSummaryIn the recent years the necessity arose to introduce modern techniques into the studies of the sulphur deposits origin. American and Soviet studies of the isotopic composition of sulphur in sulphur and sulphates and of carbon in carbonates accompanying the sulphur deposits proved extremely helpful. In Poland such studies have been carried out since several years ago by a team of physicists of the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University at Lublin, and recently in co-operation with the geologists of the Geological Institute (J. Czerminski, T. Osmólski, 1974). One of the interesting problems proved to be the distribution of sulphur and carbon isotopes in the Piaseczno deposit.Three zones differing in isotopic composition of the sulphur-bearing sediments (Fig. 1) have been distinguished by the present author in the Piaseczno deposit.The processes responsible for the formation of sulphur-bearing deposits different in near-surface zones from those in deeper part of the deposit have been clarified to a considerable extent. To study one of the fundamental problems, i.e. the role of water in the formation of sulphur deposits comprehensive examinations of d13C, d34S,d18O in specially selected samples are suggested by the present author.A brief theretical discussion of the method is also given. Theoretical calculations based on the amount of free oxygen occurring now in 1 cu m of the Vistula river water and on the assumption that water had migrated into the deposit for several hundred thousand years indicate that less than 1 per cent of the present anual flow of the Vistula river in the Tarnobrzeg area is needed to oxidize the hydrogen sulphide produced due to the reduction of gypsum. Consequently, in the past the oxygen available was sufficient to oxidize the total originating hydrogen sulphide to sulphur.