442 KIRK BRYAN 



evidence of structure. However, a group of springs of common 

 origin can usually be identified with the geologic structure to which 

 they are due. 



Springs of relatively large volume with little variation in flow 

 or temperature present, especially if they are hot springs, difficult 

 problems. Certain hot springs are undoubtedly of meteoric 

 origin and depend for temperature on the descent of meteoric 

 water from the surface into the crust and its rise, without great 

 loss in temperature, to the surface. Such springs are due to the 

 fracture, usually by faulting of the cover of a definite artesian 

 structure, but unfortunately no adequate description of such a 

 spring has yet been published. Buckhorn, Indian, and Willow 

 springs in Antelope Valley, California, which served as examples 

 of the fracture artesian^ type of spring, are not thermal. Nearby 

 flowing wells, having water of similar chemical composition, are 

 from 200 to 400 feet deep. The artesian circulation in this valley 

 does not go to great enough depths to yield hot water. 



Many springs of steady flow* and high temperatures arise in 

 localities where it is impossible to postulate a structure which will 

 receive the water at the surface, carry it to depths, and return it to the 

 surface. Waring- found that of ninety-eight groups of hot springs in 

 California, thirty-eight rise from granite or granitic rocks; of 155 

 carbonate springs, some of which are above the normal temperature, 

 thirty-two occur in granite or granitic rocks. In such rocks the 

 hot waters must arise from below through deep fissures. In Cali- 

 fornia there is a notable association of the springs with faults, to 

 which the fissures may be attributed. From these deep fractures 

 in the crust, juvenile water from underlying magmas or incipient 

 magmas may arise or there may be admixtures of meteoric and 

 even connate waters which have or may have a circulation due to 

 obscure or unknown forces. Certainly it seems simpler to assume 

 that the water is juvenile. Certain springs, such as those near 

 the Fish Springs Range, Utah,^ are associated with faults of large 



' Kirk Bryan, op. ciL, pp. 553-55- 



^ Gerald A. Waring, "Springs of California," U.S. Geol. Survey, Water-Supply 

 Paper 338 (19 15), p. 154. 



3 Kirk Bryan, op. ciL, pp. 533-35- 



