1. 1.      Please explain the meaning of hot spring.

Some scholars suggested that a spring with over 38 degree Celsius, higher than our body temperature, is defined as the hot spring.

1. 2.      What is the difference of temperature between earth surface and 1km underground?

As every 1km deeper from the surface of the earth, the temperature of the underground will increase by 30 degree Celsius in average. So we can say that their temperature difference is 30 degree Celsius.

1. 3.      How many kinds of hot spring are there in Beitou?

There are 3 kinds of hot spring in Beitou, green sulfur hot spring, white sulfur hot spring and iron sulfur hot spring.

1. 4.      What conditions are required to have hot spring?

There are 3 conditions at least to form hot spring. 1. underground water(if not, make one). 2. fault fracture to release the underground water. 3. geothermal to create imbalance water pressure, and drive the heated water out of the underground through the fracture.

1. 5.      What is the original name of Xinbeitou area?

The name of Xinbeitou was derived from the railway station name. Before the branch line from Beitou to Xinbeitou was constructed, Xinbeitou area was called Huang Gang Ho (磺港後)and/or Huang Tian (磺田)

1. 6.      What is the PH value of green sulfur hot spring?

Its PH value is approximately 1-2, according to Wikipedia. 

1. 7.      About how much water gushes out from Geothermal Valley every day?Roughly 2000 cubic meters.

1. 8.      About how many square meters are there for Geothermal Valley?

About 3500 square meters.

1. 9.      How do you introduce Hokutolite?

Hokutolite means Beitou stone, which is the only mineral in the name after a place in Taiwan among 4000 minerals known in the world.

From the Beitou creek, you can find lots of andesite rocks in the river bed. Geothermal Valley is the origin of Beitou creek, from where the hot spring with temperature about 90-98 degree Celsius gushes out. The whole natural surroundings illustrate how the Hokutolites are formed.

The hot spring contains mineral elements such as sulfur, lead, barium, radium, iron, oxygen and so forth. As the hot spring water flows downward and its temperature drops to 70-75 degree, those elements begin to precipitate (deposit) and crystallize on the surface of andesite rocks. The whole process of crystallization takes very long time. For example, 1cm thick accumulated layer requires 130-200 years or even longer.

Hokutolites are not only famous for scarcity in the world, but also for practical uses. Owing to its radioactivity, Japanese believe that it could be helpful for human health, like improving blood circulation, activating body cells, promoting metabolism and alleviating muscles pain. And it could be therapeutic to various diseases such as arthritis, rheumatism, dermatitis (skin diseases)... etc. They have been successfully commercialized in Japan market. For instance, 900 Grain of Beitou stone is worth US$2900.

  Undoubtedly, it is our national treasure.

1. 10.  What is the substance which makes Hokutolite radioactive?

The mineral elements such as barium and radium make Hokutolites radioactive.

1. 11.  Please narrate how the artificial hot spring (white sulfur) is made.

White sulfuric spring comes from the vapor of fumaroles, then mixed with water induced from mountains.

1. 12.  What are four products (natural resources) of Beitou?

They are sulfur, Common Rush grass, Chi-Li-An stones and Petuntse (White porcelain clay).