Exploration and Engineering Study of Some Hot Spring Systems in Western Thailand for Local Tourism Development

Abstract

Hot spring systems in Thailand are in general of two types, either directly connected to a granitic basement or indirectly communicated through an intermediate sedimentary rock layer. They are commonly found along some fault systems, such as the Three Pagodas fault zone of western Thailand. The changing characteristics of many hot springs during the 26 December 2004 Sumatra Earthquake include both temperature and chemical compositions indicate the value to study them in connection with the regional tectonics. However, in this paper the focus is on investigation of hot spring sites for development of tourist/local industry as it has been done in many locations in Thailand. The results of geophysical and geotechnical investigations, jointly conducted by the AIT and Mahidol University research teams, in Kanchanaburi province of western Thailand are presented.