Comparative Study of Two Ferruginous Thermal Sources, Carbogaseous in the Eastern Rif, Morocco

• Published in: Chemistry Africa Vol. 7; no. 5; pp. 2807 - 2820
• Main Authors: Mouchane, Mohamed, Taybi, Hanan, Bargach, Kaoutar, Idrissi Kandri, Noureddine, Gouitaa, Najwa, Farhat, Kamal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01-07-2024
• Subjects: Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chemistry/Food Science; Inorganic Chemistry; Organometallic Chemistry; Original Article; Ain Hamra; Geological study; Thermal source; Therapeutic effect; Physico-chemical quality; Ain El Haouamed
• ISSN: 2522-5758; 2522-5766
• DOI: 10.1007/s42250-024-00913-6

Morocco possesses a valuable thermal heritage, particularly in the eastern region where numerous springs could constitute appreciable wealth due to the therapeutic properties of their waters. While some thermal springs attract interest, the majority remain largely underexploited. It is in this context that our study specifically focuses on the characteristics of two thermal springs, Ain Hamra and Ain El Haouamed. This selection is driven by the lack of scientific research on the Ain Hamra source and the absence of previous studies on the Ain El Haouamed source, making our research a pioneering initiative in this region. Water samples were collected seasonally during the years 2021 and 2022. The results indicate that the waters from both sources are hypothermal, with an acidic potential of Hydrogen ion (pH). These waters are rich in minerals, characterized by high concentrations of iron, reaching 5.10 mg/L in Ain El Haouamed and 1.75 mg/L in Ain Hamra. Additionally, they exhibit a high carbon dioxide content, measured at 935.83 mg/L in Ain El Haouamed and 803.28 mg/L in Ain Hamra. These special waters are beneficial for health. However, the high presence of certain elements can make them unsuitable for uncontrolled human consumption. Therefore, rigorous monitoring of the quality of these waters is of crucial importance. In this article, we have presented the characteristics of the waters from two sources, which are part of the valuable water resources that Morocco enjoys.