Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-11-03
RAoIoAcTlVITY OF PARK WA
TIERS.
Report of Tests Conducted for United
States Gecloalc=i SURVEY

States Geological Survey.
Since the discovery of IRIDIUM and
its allied elements, with their remark
able property of continuously emanat-
| ing heat, new factor has entered in
to the speculations Of scientists re.
sarding the causes of local nantes.
tations of heat in the earth's crust
Thermal springs and geysers are I'm.
dergoing a new scrutiny In order TO
determine whether their waters CON
tain greater quantities Of radium than
ordinary waters from underground
sources. The United States Geological
Survey has Just published. ms Bulle-
tin 1895, a report under the title IRA.
dioactivity of the Thermal Waters Of
Yellowstone National Park" by Her.
man Schlundt and Richard B. Moore,
giving the results of recent tests. The
experiments were conducted chiefly
from the chemists point of view. and
In this bulletin The discussion that
follows the tables Of euantf .ative re-.
suits is limited to pointing out the
more important characteristics and
relations of the data and comparing
lAem with data of fadfoacIvity In
Other regions of hydrothernas ectiv-
ity. The authors have indicated a
possible application of come of the
results to geologic question-tne
age of some of the spring deposits;
but no systematic attempt has been
made to relate the facts OF radioactiv.
ity to the photography OF the region
or to the geology of the park.
Typical spring waters from all the
principal basins of thermal activity
were tested, and wherever gases We're
evolved from spring these also were
tested for their radioactive proper.
ties. Many solids also, consisting of
spring deposits. water residles. and
rock samples. were examined quaint
tatively for the radium content. The
determinations We're all made by the
electrical method, the apparatus ana
procedure Tor which are briefly des-
cribed
The results show that the umderly-
Ing rock In the park contains radium
and, In some localities thorium, In sur
tcient quantities to make the waters
and gases decidedly radioactive. No
tests were made to determine the pres
ence of helium, which is a constituent
Of the gas escaping from several OF
the more active European springs.
An interesting application of the
results is made by the authors in an
estimate of the age of the oldest
spring deposits In the park by com
.parison Of their radioactivity with that
Of the most recent deposits. A given
quantity Of radium, separated from
Its parent uranium. loses, according to
recent determinations, one-half It's ac-
tivity in 1900 years On this basis
the age of certain deposits that are
overlain by glacial powders Is deter.
mined to be about 10000 years.
The problem is suggested, To what
extent has lde radium caused the
continued hyArcthermal activity in
Yellowstone Park. by affecting the
rate of cooling Of tho rocks? No cal
culaticns were attempted In this di-
rection, owing 10 lack OF data regard
the volume of water disei arged by
the springs From all considera-
tons. however. the authors conclude
that no more than 1 per cent Of the
heat required for hydrothermal action
can be ascribed to the radlum content
of the rock.
Bulletin 395 may be obtained free
by writing TO TIE director of the U. 8.
geological survey. Washington, d. C.