ABSTRACT: The Sokolov Basin is a place of collision between long-term coal mining concerns and spa town Karlovy Vary protection concerns. Both the technology and the method of coal mining are strongly limited due to the existence of the Karlovy Vary thermal springs that have priority importance. Considering that the geohydrodynamic systems of these resources form one single structure, the so called Ohárecký Rift, the possibility of natural barrier layers being negatively impacted by mining is extremely strong, This has also become evident recently in the case of uncontrolled opening of some old exit paths that have to be sol ved as emergency or warning states. Thus, one of the most significant problems to be solved in connection with the protection of Karlovy Vary thennal springs, is the recognition and best possible localisation of exit routes - hydrogeologically active faults and rift zones. This problem may only be sol ved by conducting complex structural-tectonic analysis, based on parallel interpretation of geophysical methods. The already completed regional hydrogeological and geophysical prospecting must be followed by detailed geophysical research.