28 



THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



The field work comprising measurements of radioactivity, tem- 

 perature, flow, and chemical tests was carried out at Banff in No- 

 vember and December, 1916. A temporary laboratory was fitted 

 up in the Government Fire Hall. This enabled the examination for 

 radioactivity to be made without delay. Samples of about 40 litres 

 for further radioactive measurements and for chemical analysis were 

 sent to the Mines Branch laboratories at Ottawa. A description of 

 the methods used in the various determinations is given in a report 

 soon to be published by the Mines Branch. 



The following table gives the results of the examination. An 

 analysis of the Kings Spring at Bath, England, is included as some 

 re.'îemblance exists between it and the Banff waters. 



Discussion of Results. 



The results of the various determinations show that there has 

 been little variation of either chemical or physical properties since 

 1885, when the earliest examination was made. Some observations 

 on the temperature of the Upper Hot Spring, especially a series in 1907, 

 when a minimum of 56° F. was reached, have shown occasional de- 

 clines but no consistent series of readings have ever been made. A 

 periodic variation of the flow is observed, it being greater in the spring 

 than in the early months of the year, as would be anticipated. 



The values obtained for the radioactivity of the waters except 

 for the dissolved radium content show the springs to be the most 

 active of any yet examined in Canada. They compare favourably 

 with many of the Yellowstone Park Springs which were investigated 

 by Schlundt and Moore in 1905^ but the results are rather lower 

 than those for the principal European springs noted for their radio- 

 active properties. The values for the separate springs show small 

 variation from each other. 



The following table enables comparison of the three analyses 

 that have been carried out on the Upper Hot Spring. 



Parts per million. 



1 H. Schlundt & R. Moore, Bull. 395, U.S. Geol. Sur. 1909. 



