STUDY ON THE ORIGIN OF SOHNA THERMAL SPRING IN GURGAON DISTRICT, HARYANA by 8. Des, F.N.A., and D. K. Rax, Department of Geological Sciences, Jadavpur University, Calcutta 32 (Received 7 August 1971) Soha thermal spring (28° 1445" :77° 4’) in Gurgaon District, Haryana, occurs at the base of a xidge of Alwar quartzite (Pre-Cambrian) which is, bounded on either side by alluvium. At Sohna the quartzite forms a syne formal structure, ‘The water table of the area appoars to follow tho topography. The water. Dearing capacity of the alluvium on the east of Sohna ridge is better than that on the west. ‘The geothermal field appears to extend at least over an. area of about 42,000 sq, ft. and may produce enough quantity of chemically suitable drinking water ‘The spring water (temp. 47°C) is nearly nevtral. Sodium and calcium are tho major cations while emong tho anions bicarbonate and chloride are abundant. Presence of some of the metallic trace-clements, e.g. Ni, Co, Ma, Cu, Cr, and Pb, has been determined quantitatively. Comparative study of ratios, by weight, of K/Na, LijNa, F/CI and B/C] of the spring water with the same of waters of different genetic types reveals that there is nearly 40 per eant probability of the spring water to belong to ‘metamorphic water. But considering the environmental factor and certain chemical parameters this is considered unlikely. Local ground water spe- cially from the alluvium terrain accounts for to @ large extent the chemieal Dbohaviours of tho spring water ‘Deep circulation of the ground water through the alluvium on the west, aided by the joint systems in the quartzite particularly in the hinge region of the synform, is probably the controlling factor for the localization of tho thermal spring LyrropverioN Sohna thermal spring (28° 14’ 45” : 77° 4’) in Gurgaon District, Haryana, attracted the attention of scientists long ago. But except recording the temperature of the spring by different workers as cited by Oldham (1882) no observation had been made before Ghosh (1948) who carried out brief in vestigations on radio-activity, trace-element and other physico-chemical properties of the spring water. ‘The spectroscopic examination done by Ghosh revealed the presence of numerous rare elements in the water. He also classi- fied the spring water (radio-activity 2-93 mye/litre) in the category of ‘strongly radio-active’ group. ‘The spring is located about 12 miles south of Gurgaon on Gurgaon-Alwar road and has been partly developed as a commercial bathing centre. ‘The present paper deals with the geological, hydrological and chemical studies on the spring followed by a suggestion on its probable origin. VOL. 37, A, No. 5,Des & Ray Proc, Indian natn. Sei. Acad., Vol. 37, A, Plate XVIII Grovocy oF THE AREA The thermal spring occurs at the base of a quartzite ridge which turns sharply from south-south-west to west at Sohna. The area to the north and east of the spring-site is occupied by alluvium. Alwar quartzite of the Delhi system is exposed to the west and south of the spring while alluvium covers the region further west and south. The quartzites are white, pinkish white or pale grey. They are well compacted and highly jointed (Fig. 1). There are two sets of joints nearly perpendicular to bedding and one set parallel to bedding. Of the former one is sub-vertical and nearly parallel to the a jal plane of the fold and the J, Jointed Alwar quartzite, South of Solna thermnal spring, other is dipping at moderately steep angles towards NE., ie. nearly at right angles to the fold axis. ‘These three sets of joints give rise to more ortope-sneet No—23 M/s & 25 M4 Alluvium : Alwor quartzite “aA Dip of quartzite é‘ Thermal spring ° y me __# + oeate Fic, 2, Geological map of Sohna thermal epring-site, Gurgaon Dist., Haryana,