MINERAL WATER
Mineral water is water that has either naturally or artificially added minerals. Many forms of mineral water are also carbonated, which may also be the result of natural processes. Unlike sparkling water, however, mineral water does not have to be carbonated, and is defined by its having over 250 parts per million (ppm) of a mineral substance.
Most water has to be processed to reduce mineral content, and any unwanted bacteria or chemicals. Mineral water, conversely, is usually obtained from a water source rich in some kind of mineral thought to be beneficial to the health. As water sits in contact with minerals, it can, over time, absorb some of the mineral content.
To define whether mineral water can be called such, one evaluates the contents of trace minerals in the evaporation of approximately a liter of water. Most mineral water contains more than one trace mineral in greater or lesser values. Various mineral components vary widely, but might include iron, magnesium, calcium, or zinc, a very short list of the various chemical compounds.
AZORES MINERAL WATER
The volcanic nature of the Azores archipelago explains the occurrence of hydromineral resources, with discharges been observed along the majority of the islands, and especially at São Miguel island. These waters are highly variable regarding the dissolved content and hydrogeochemical types, due to the influence of several geochemical processes through percolation, and are mainly discharges from perched-water bodies at altitude in active volcanoes.
The Valley of Lombadas, which has been declared a nature reserve, is a fascinating, rather savage and untouched landscape with mineral water springs and luxuriant vegetation. This is the site of the naturally carbonated spring that provides the famous and refreshing mineral water known as “Agua das Lombadas”.
“Agua das Lombadas” is a sparkling mineral water that contains calcium (Ca++), magnesium (Mg++), sodium (Na+) and also Bicarbonate (HCO3-).These occur in varying amounts with the highest mineral content, aside from bicarbonate, being sodium (22 mg/l), followed by calcium (15 mg/l) and magnesium (1 mg/l).
About the Earthcache:
To reach the Earthcache GZ, in the middle of nowhere with only wild volcanic nature around, you have two options: Either you leave the car in the village of Caldeiras near the hot springs and the restaurant and follow the road you have just passed at the entrance to the village up to Lombadas – it is nearly 5 km of a fairly nice hike oneway – or you let the car do the work, in the road that is almost single track and made of cobble stone. Either way, it’s a place not to be missed!
After exploring the area, the questions to answer are:
a) How many extraction water fountains can you count?
b) Water is cold or hot?
c) How many river streams can you see?
d) Why do you think the stones have such a rusty red colour?
e) From the volcanic manifestations that you can observe in the gz, name at least one.
Being OPTIONAL, and since we appreciate images, publish along with your log an image in the gz and your GPS (include yourself if you want).
Send me the answers via my geocaching profile and enjoy your visit.
E-mail me the answer and the image to netuseraz (at) hotmail (dot) com before logging the cache. I will get back to you with the permission to do so.