426 KIRK BRYAN 



intricate and uncertain realms of geologic theory. Is the hot 

 water of meteoric, juvenile, or mixed origin? On the answer 

 to this question depends, in a measure, the future of Hot Springs, 

 Arkansas. 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 



To the officials of the National Park Service, through whose 

 co-operation the work was undertaken, the writer is indebted for 

 the opportunity of making this study. The local officers of the 

 Park Service and Colonel John R. Fordyce extended numerous 

 courtesies in Hot Springs. Messrs. H. G. Ferguson, O. E. Meinzer, 

 Clyde P. Ross, and W. D. Collins have read the manuscript and 

 offered valuable suggestions. Mr. H. D. Miser has generously 

 allowed the use of much unpublished material from his extensive 

 researches in the geology of Arkansas, 



CHARACTER OF THE HOT WATERS 



The waters of forty-six springs have been analyzed by Haywood.^ 

 The mineral contents vary from 170 to 310 parts per million, and 

 in only a few of the springs do the mineral contents fall below 270 

 parts or rise above 290 parts. Silica is an important constituent 

 ranging from 32.5 to 52.3 parts per million but being usually be- 

 tween 44 and 47 parts. Calcium (Ca) ranges between 26 and 50 

 parts per million while the bi-carbonate radicle (HCO3) ranges 

 between 94 and 172 parts per million. The excess of carbon 

 dioxide is satisfied by small amounts of magnesium, potassium, and 

 sodium. The sulphate radicle ranges from 6 to 28 parts per milHon, 

 and chloride from 2.36 to 3.33. Their salts therefore form only 

 a small part of the total solids. Small quantities of manganese, 

 traces of phosphorus, of combined nitrogen, iron, and aluminum are 

 present. Boron, iodine, and bromium are reported as small quan- 

 tities or in traces. 



The waters of two cold springs which are located at the pavilion 

 north of the Arlington Hotel have a mineral content of 36.4 and 

 43 .7 parts per million. The water is similar to the hot water except 



' J. K. Haywood, Report of an Analysis of the Waters of the Hot Springs, etc. 

 Sen. Doc. 282, 57th Congress, ist Sess. (1902), pp. 1-78. 



I 



