Section III, 1917 [27] Trans. R.S.C. 



Examination of the Hot Springs at Banff, Alberta. 

 By R. T. Elworthy, B.Sc. 

 (By permission of the Director, Mines Branch.) 

 Presented by Dr. Frank T. Shutt. 



A modern investigation of a mineral spring covers a considerable 

 field of chemical and physical measurements. It includes a bacterio- 

 logical examination, the measuiement of the physical characters 

 of the water such as density, color, osmotic pressure, electrical con- 

 ductivity, radioactivity, temperature, rate of flow, and a complete 

 chemical analysis with the results worked out to give the fullest 

 information for the purpose of classification and comparison in regard 

 to the geological formation through which the water has passed. 



Such an examination has been carried out, except the bacter- 

 iological examination, on six springs at Banff, in the Rocky Moun- 

 tains National Park, Alberta. The Banff springs are probably the 

 best known springs in Canada, owing to their unique position and to 

 their development by the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Do- 

 minion Parks Branch of the Department of Interior. Yet little 

 information exists concerning the chemical and physical properties 

 of the waters. A partial analysis of the Cave Spring and the Upper 

 Hot Spring was made as early as 1885 by Dr. Sudgen Evans, and 

 Dr. A. McGill carried out an examination of the same springs in 1896. 

 Dr. R. W. Boyle and D. Mcintosh investigated the radioactivity of a 

 spring at Banff (Trans. Roy. Soc. Can. 7-sec. iii-163-1913), but the 

 value stated differs considerably from the present results. 



Five of the springs are on the north eastern slope of Sulphur 

 Mountain. They probably rise through a fault running almost 

 parallel to the ridge. The Upper Hot Spring and the Kidney Spring 

 are at the greatest altitude, 5,000 feet above sea level. The Middle 

 Springs are a mile and a half lower down the mountain while the Cave 

 and Basin Springs are still lower and about a mile from Banff. The 

 overflow from these two springs supplies a magnificent open air 

 swimrning bath, built by the Rocky Mountains Park Authorities. 

 Another swimming pool is situated at the Upper Hot Spring which 

 also supplies the Banff Springs Hotel bath. The sixth spring is three 

 miles out of Banff on the Automobile Road and by the shore of Ver- 

 million Lake. All the springs are in their natural state. 



