Abstract

Hương Sơn (Hà Tĩnh Province) has been known by many hot mineral water sources including Sơn Kim, Ngầm Thép, Rào Mắc, IV Military Region, Hà Tân, Khe Tre, Station 5. The main ion components of these sources are HCO₃^- and Na⁺; they belong to the bicarbonate sodium water type. The above sources are attributed into hot mineral sources, because of their temperature varies from 30^oC (Station 5) to 78^oC (Sơn Kim source). The Sơn Kim source is of silica - fluorine - sulfur hydro water types; meanwhile, the Ngầm Thép, IV Military Region, Khe Tre, Station 5 of silica hot mineral water sources. The mentioned hot mineral water sources are of good quality and have been exploited and used with the aims of treatment, convalescence and refresher. Because of good quality, high temperature and the presence of specific components, the Sơn Kim source has high value in terms of pharmacology, as well as high potential for developing a hydrotherapy centre. Meanwhile, with quite high temperature as in Sơn Kim (78^oC), Rào Mắc (61^oC), the potentiality of exploiting geothermal source is satisfactory. In addition, Sơn Kim has also great prospect of developing tourism in the future, contributing in the district development.