300 Headden — Group of Radium-bearing Springs. 



aration is probably to be found in the mingling of waters from 

 different springs quite near to the surface. We have the 

 Drinking Spring at one end and the Black Spring at the other, 

 both clear, while the intermediate ones are turbid. The water 

 of the Black Spring is different from that of the Drinking 

 Spring, and a mixture of these waters would bring about the 

 precipitation of baric sulphate. The precipitated baric sul- 

 phate is in an extremely fine state of division, and the flow of 

 water and gas is sufficient to keep it in suspension and produce 

 the milky appearance of the water. 



The considerations which lead me to this conclusion are the 

 following : 



The Drinking Spring is perfectly clear and contains a very 

 marked quantity of barium in solution. This spring is depos- 

 iting a baritic sinter outside of the spring. 



The other springs are turbid or milky. Their waters con- 

 tain only a very minute trace of barium after the milkiness 

 has disappeared. A baritic sinter is forming in and about 

 these springs. 



A spring designated as the Birds Nest is building a cone 

 about its vent consisting very largely of baric sulphate pre- 

 cipitated within the spring and washed up and out by the out- 

 flowing gases and water. The water contains only a minute 

 trace of barium. 



A small amount of deposit was obtained from five gallons 

 of water dipped from the Bath Tub ; this deposit contained in 

 whole numbers 25 per cent of baric sulphate and only a 

 minute quantity of sulphur. The fine impalpable mud from 

 the bottom of the Bath Tub contained almost 40 per cent of 

 baric sulphate. 



The foregoing facts convince me that the explanation offered 

 to account for the milkiness of these springs is correct. It 

 further seems to me to follow that water similar to that of the 

 Drinking Spring is the source of the barium, while the pre- 

 cipitant is probably a water of the type of the Black Spring. 

 If the precipitation takes place very near to the surface, it is 

 possible that water of surface origin may participate in the 

 precipitation. 



I cannot give the number of springs in this group. The 

 strip extending from the Drinking Spring to the Black Spring, 

 a distance of 150 feet or more, is an area of general discharge 

 with a number of well defined springs. 



The waters of these springs are, at first, not very acceptable 

 to the palate and the average person would have to acquire a 

 taste for them. The characteristic in their taste is not due to 

 the hydrogen sulphide. I do not know to what one can liken 

 their taste, especially that of the Drinking Spring, which sug- 



