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Vouchers Unique in the Alpine region.
Geology, formation and variety of mineral water
A geological sensation in the Alps.
Engadiner Fenster (Lower Engadine Window)
Around 250 million years ago, the supercontinent Pangaea began to break apart due to magmatic forces. An ocean opened up between the African and European continental plates; this filled with water and formed what is known as the Tethys Sea. Various sediments were deposited along the continental margins and on the seabed. Around 95 million years ago, the opening of the Tethys Sea came to a halt. The direction of movement of the continental plates reversed: Africa moved northwards and collided with Europe towards the end of the Cretaceous period. As a result, layers of rock were pushed on top of one another and the Alpine arc was formed. The Tethys Sea was pushed southwards; what remains of it today is the Mediterranean Sea. During the collision, the Eastern Alpine nappes – which originally lay side by side and consist of a crystalline basement and an overlying sedimentary cover – were stacked on top of one another.
Between Guarda and Prutz (Tyrol), erosion by glaciers and the River Inn over the last 1.5 million years has created a long, elliptical ‘window’ in the Eastern Alpine nappes. This has exposed the underlying Pennine nappes, which were previously overlain by the Eastern Alpine nappes. In addition to erosion, movements along the Engadine Line also contributed to the formation of the window. This SW–NE-trending Tertiary fault forms its south-eastern edge. In the process, the northern units (Silvretta Nappe) were uplifted relative to the southern ones (S-Charl Nappe). In addition, the uplift was aided by an arch running almost parallel to the Engadin Line.
Tectonic map of the Lower Engadine Window area
How is mineral water formed?
Meteoric water (rain and meltwater) can penetrate underground through fissures, cracks, pores and karst openings. The route the groundwater takes determines wheter the water reaches the surface as «ordinary» drinking water or as «highly mineralised» mineral water. The spring usually emerges at the lowest point where erosion has exposed the rock – usually near the bottom of a valley. The mineral water of Lower Engadin comes from Graubünden shale. Therfore, its degree of mineralisation depends on the following factors:
- how long the water spent in the rock underground
- the depth the water penetrated to
- the pressure and temperature conditions resulting from this depth
If, at great depths, groundwater or fissure water meets carbon dioxide gas rising due to the activity of magma or carbon dioxide gas produced by rock metamorphosis, it becomes enriched with it, producing naturally carbonated water. The water dissolves various elements from the ground, such as sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, chloride or sulphate, depending on the rock through which it flows. It usually takes many years or decades for the water to become mineral water. The mineral springs in the area around Scuol come to the surface as cold springs (5 – 10 °C). The water in the Carola, Vi, Sotsass and Lischana springs spends about five years underground. Meanwhile, the water in the Lucius, Emerita, Sfondraz and Bonifacius springs needs about 25 years to «mature».
Ground water circulation
Types of spring
The «healing springs» first mentioned in writing in 1369 and highly praised by Paracelsus in 1533 can be divided into groups based on their most important ingredients.
Overview of types of spring
| Types of spring | Springs |
|---|---|
| Naturally carbonated mineral water with calcium, hydrogen carbonate (and iron) | Chalzina, Chalzina Sura, Clozza, Fuschna, Rablönch, Runà, Sotsass, Tulai, Vi |
| Water with calcium & sulphate | Funtana Cotschna |
| Naturally carbonated mineral water with calcium, sodium, hydrogen carbonate & iron | Bonifacius |
| Naturally carbonated mineral water with sodium, calcium, hydrogen carbonate, chloride (arsenic & iron) | Carola, Sfondraz, Ulrich |
| Naturally carbonated mineral water with sodium, hydrogen carbonate, chloride & iron | Emerita, Lucius |
| Naturally carbonated mineral water with sodium, magnesium, hydrogen carbonate, sulphate & iron | Lischana |
| Types of spring | Naturally carbonated mineral water with calcium, hydrogen carbonate (and iron) | Water with calcium & sulphate | Naturally carbonated mineral water with calcium, sodium, hydrogen carbonate & iron | Naturally carbonated mineral water with sodium, calcium, hydrogen carbonate, chloride (arsenic & iron) | Naturally carbonated mineral water with sodium, hydrogen carbonate, chloride & iron | Naturally carbonated mineral water with sodium, magnesium, hydrogen carbonate, sulphate & iron |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springs | Chalzina, Chalzina Sura, Clozza, Fuschna, Rablönch, Runà, Sotsass, Tulai, Vi | Funtana Cotschna | Bonifacius | Carola, Sfondraz, Ulrich | Emerita, Lucius | Lischana |
Components
The captured mineral waters contain a wide variety of components that are indispensable for humans. The most important minerals are listed here with their characteristics.
Overview of the components
| Mineral | Characteristic |
|---|---|
| Chloride | Chloride contributes to normal digestion through the formation of gastric acid. |
| Iron | Iron in dissolved form contributes to the normal formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin and thus to normal oxygen transport in the body. It also contributes to the normal function of the immune system and to the reduction of fatigue. The average daily requirement of an adult is 14 milligrams. |
| Calcium | Calcium is needed for the maintenance of normal bones and teeth. It contributes in dissolved form to normal energy metabolism, normal muscle function, blood clotting and signal transmission between nerve cells. The average daily requirement of an adult is 800 milligrams. |
| Magnesium | Magnesium is needed for the maintenance of normal bones and teeth. In dissolved form, it contributes to normal muscle function, the nervous system and the reduction of fatigue. The average daily requirement of an adult is 375 milligrams. |
| Mineral | Chloride | Iron | Calcium | Magnesium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristic | Chloride contributes to normal digestion through the formation of gastric acid. | Iron in dissolved form contributes to the normal formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin and thus to normal oxygen transport in the body. It also contributes to the normal function of the immune system and to the reduction of fatigue. The average daily requirement of an adult is 14 milligrams. | Calcium is needed for the maintenance of normal bones and teeth. It contributes in dissolved form to normal energy metabolism, normal muscle function, blood clotting and signal transmission between nerve cells. The average daily requirement of an adult is 800 milligrams. | Magnesium is needed for the maintenance of normal bones and teeth. In dissolved form, it contributes to normal muscle function, the nervous system and the reduction of fatigue. The average daily requirement of an adult is 375 milligrams. |
Comparison of selected components
