In the southern Spitsbergen area, thermal and mineral waters are primarily
associated with subpermafrost deep circulation, being mixed with shallow circulation and
glacial waters. Four thermal springs, located in the region of Stormbukta (Sørkappland),
were studied and analyzed. In the thermal waters, the main cation is sodium, while the
main anions are chloride and bicarbonate. The temperatures of the mineral and thermal
waters range from 3.4 to 15.1°C. The pH values are between 7.43 and 8.41. The total
dissolved solids (TDS) content of the geothermal waters is in the range of 346–4031 mg/l
and the Olsok thermal spring has the highest TDS values. Based on the variation in
physicochemical characteristics, two thermal water types were distinguished in the study
area. The first type is associated with thermal waters originating from deep circulation
waters. The second type is associated with the thermal and mineral waters originating
from the mixture of subpermfrost hot brines with glacial waters.
The Hoglandvatnet and Ålandvatnet are genetically associated with the action of a large ice stream issuing from Mittag-Lefflerbreen towards Lomonosovfonna as far nortwards as Austfjorden. The accomplished investigations permit water properties to be described for Hoglandvatnet and Ålandvatnet, as well as the chemical composition of the basin waters to be correlated with lithologic diversity of the surrounding massifs and the composition of glacier water feeding them. Water of Hoglandvatnet has a rather uniform ion composition. It is sulphate-calcium water. Low mineral contents of glacier water and that flowing through crystalline rocks of Framstaken and feeding the basin result in its less marked effect on the Hoglandvatnet water, compared with highly mineralized water of streams issuing from Trikolorfjellet and Tarantellen. Water of Ålandvatnet has a somewhat different quantitative ion composition than that of Hoglandvatnet. It is calcium-sulphate-bicarbonate water which is richer in the bicarbonate ion than the Hoglandvatnet waters. This is most likely due to the influence of bicarbonate water of Ålandelva and glacier water feeding the basin. It can also be the result of a smaller contribution from highly mineralized calcium-sulphate water issuing from Trikolorfjellet.