Medical Hydrology and Balneology: Environmental Aspects

Balnea
2012, núm. 6, 110-111
Medical Hydrology and Balneology: Environmental Aspects
Results
The analysis revealed that salt pan mud is composed mainly of inorganic constituents:
carbonates, silicates (quartz) and clay minerals. The organic proportion is
small (up to 2.3 wt.%). The carbohydrate and protein content range from 6.6 to 3.1
and 3.5 to 0.1 mg/g. Mineralogical analysis confirmed calcite, quartz, halite, muscovite,
manganium oxide and clay minerals as the major components. The particle
size analysis showed that samples were mostly composed of silt size particles
(83%).
Conclusions
The quality of the therapeutic salt-pan mud depends on the composition of the
‘’virgin’’ substrate and brine characteristics in the process of salt-pan mud maturation.
The results indicate the need for carefully planned monitoring of the ‘’ripening’’
of the original substrate, which would involve the determination of chemical
and biological features of the original substrate and temporal transformations.
Particular attention should be devoted to research in this quality (swelling rate, heat
conductivity, water and ion-exchange capacity) and the usefulness of the resulting
peloid.
Keywords: Thalassotheraphy, Secovlje Salina, Peloid
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