Summer 2005
WHAT IS A MINERAL HOT SPRING?
Balneologists classify hot springs into two categories:
Filtration Hot Springs:
These are caused by rain water which travels down through faults and becomes geothermally heated by the earth’s interior, where the water absorbs minerals by leaching, and then returns to the earth’s surface.
Primary Hot Springs:
These are caused by geothermally heated water, as a result of volcanic activity creating the hot springs. The main difference between the two is that the waters in this category may have a high gas content, such as bromide or radon. Often the water in these kinds of springs are under pressure from the magma chambers from which they originate.
Balneologists also classify springs by the water temperatures of the springs.
A Cold Spring: has temperatures below 77 degrees F ( 25 degrees C)
A Tepid Spring: has temperatures ranging from 77-93 degrees F (25-34 degrees C)
A Warm Spring: has temperatures ranging from 93-108 degrees F (34-42 Degrees C)
A Hot Spring: has temperatures above 108 degrees F (42 degrees C)
