The formation of natural mineral water begins with precipitation (rain and snow) infiltrating into groundwater. This water is then filtered through rock layers such as sandstone, conglomerate, and limestone with well-developed fissures, undergoing slow chemical reactions deep underground that can last from decades to hundreds or even tens of thousands of years.
Mineralization primarily includes dissolution, alternation of adsorbed cations, redox reactions, evaporation and concentration, and mixing.
Water flowing through specific rock layers, such as limestone and dolomite, dissolves minerals to form mineral water rich in calcium and magnesium. Volcanic rocks, such as granite, are rich in metasilicic acid. Impermeable rock layers above the aquifer, such as shale and claystone, provide protection.
Mineral water is stored in underground aquifers and naturally emerges through geological fault zones to form artesian springs, or is extracted through artificial drilling. Taking Jinjiang Natural Mineral Water in Manjiang Town, Fusong County, Jilin Province as an example, it is located in a northwest-trending compressional-shear fault. During the flow of groundwater along the fault, it dissolves and enriches soluble mineral components such as SiO₂ in the surrounding rocks, forming metasilicic acid type mineral water.
