Bear Lake Geologic Background: Spring Chemistry

Spring Chemistry

Peter Swarzenski collects water from Rick's Spring. The limestone cave behind him was probably created as the water dissolved the rock, becoming calcium enriched in the process.

Springs occur when underground water travels to the surface, often through cracks in bedrock caused by faulting. Since the Bear Lake Valley is surrounded by active faults, it's no surprise that the rock around it is fractured and leaking water. As water moves through cracks in the various rock types, it erodes the rock and becomes enriched in different minerals. By studying the chemistry of spring water around Bear Lake, we can tell what kinds of rock it traveled through. Surficial mapping of the region has given us knowledge of where the different kinds of rocks are located, so we can deduce how far the water traveled, how long it takes for the water to travel to the spring outlet and how much the flow changes over time.

The springs (see map of spring locations below) around Bear Lake can be divided into two different groups, based on their location and their chemistry. The west-side springs (St. Charles Creek, Bloomington Creek, Fish Haven, Swan Creek, Big Creek, Laketown Canyon and more distant Rick's Springs) travel through carbonate rock like limestone and dolomite. They tend to be calcium rich, cold and have their flow rates closely tied to recent rain and snowmelt events. The east-side springs (Artesian Hot Springs and the North and South Eden Creeks) travel through shales and volcanic rocks, high in alkali salts, making the spring water salty and warm. Artesian Hot Springs, near the northeast end of the lake, is probably not the only location hot water upwells on the east side. The endemic ostracodes hint at multiple hot springs flowing up through the sediments in the bottom of the lake.

Spring Locations Map

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