Page 30 - 1915, Springs of CA.

30 SPEINGS OF CALIFORNIA.
Analyses which were originally reported in grams per liter have
been converted to standard form by assuming that 1 gram per liter
is equivalent to 1 part per thousand. This assumption is true only
when the specific gravity of the water under examination is unity.
As the specific gravity is seldom stated in an analysis, errors from
this source could not be corrected, but they are small. In an analysis
of ocean water, for example, which has an average specific gravity of
1.026,1 this assumption would make recalculated figures too large by
about 2.6 per cent, but in less concentrated waters the error involved
is much smaller. Other notes concerning assumptions that were made
appear as footnotes to the several analyses.

CLASSES OF SPRINGS.
It was found impracticable to discuss the springs of California
with any regard to order of importance, for this depends on the extent
to which they are or may be improved. Some of the springs, most
remarkable from the viewpoint of the geologist or the chemist, were
in 1908-1910 unused, while those at several large resorts are of
relatively minor scientific interest. A discussion based on either
geographic or topographic arrangement was also considered impracti-
cable, as it would bear no relation to the character of the springs.
A strictly chemical grouping was not deemed advisable, because
sufficient analyses are not available for that purpose, and also because
according to such a classification, springs that are of different char-
acter according to the popular view, would be brought together.
The plan of presentation adopted therefore has been determined by
the most generally recognized characteristics of the springs and
includes nine groups, which can not, however, be precisely defined,
for some springs may be placed nearly equally well under two or
more heads. The groups are characterized as follows:
1. Hot springs; temperature higher than about 90° F., or 20°
higher than that customarily fixed as the dividing point between
thermal and nonthermal springs.
2. Carbonated springs; contain notable amounts of free carbon
dioxide.
3. Sulphur springs; contain notable amounts of hydrogen sulphide
or other unstable sulphides.
4. Saline springs; contain notable amounts of chlorides or sul-
phates, or both.
5. Magnesic springs; contain large amounts of magnesium; brought
together under one heading in order to call attention to their magnesic
character.
6. Iron springs; deposit notable amounts of iron; grouped under
one heading on account of this fact.

1 Geikie, Archibald, TextbooJi of geology, 3d ed., p. 35, Macmillan & Co., London, 1893.