Contrǒle des concentrations d'aluminium dissous dans les eaux des sources thermales

We analized about 100 hot springs of different regions in France for dissolved Al. In an area where the chemical composition of the springs for major elements is about the same and the emergence temperatures are different, we usually observe correlations between dissolved Al and temperature. This correlation is positive in the case of high pH hot springs (Pyrénées). On the contrary, the correlation is negative for the CO₂ rich waters of the Massif Central (Vichy). We also observe intermediate patterns, where Al concentrations are roughly independant of the temperature.Using a set of consistant values of thermodynamical data for ions and minerals of Al, we find that the observed correlations between Al and temperature are related to the solubility of a mineral which is generally kaolinite.