Монголын Анагаахын Сэтгүүлүүдийн Холбоо (МАСХ)
Онош, 2010, 47(047)
Inventory of the Soil Properties for Sanatorium Treatment Case Study of “Five Sand” Sanatorium, Mongolia
( Судалгааны өгүүлэл )

 

B. Suvdantsetseg a, H.Fukui a, G.Purevdorj b
 
 

 

a Geo-Informatics laboratory, Graduate school of Media and Governance, Keio University, Japan, suvdaa@sfc.keio.ac.jp
a Professor, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University, Japan, hfukui@sfc.keio.ac.jp
b”Five sand” sanatorium, Gobi-Altai province, Mongolia,  purevdorj_auis@yahoo.com
stract –The main purpose of this study is to investigate the soil properties using spectral and laboratory analyses on the field and to identify its role for sanatorium treatment in the “Five sand”, Mongolia.  This study uses two different approaches to investigate soil properties: (1) chemical laboratory analyses from collected samples and (2) spectral analyses on the field by spectrometer measurement. For the laboratory analyses of collected soil samples, we focused on the analyses of all elements, soil texture components, and chemical composition.  For the spectral analyses, we focused on the reflectance of the spectra that occur in the Visible to Middle-Infrared region of the wavelength spectrum ranging from 450nm to 2350nm in the Landsat imagery where used spectral response (endmembers) of imagery that compared with MS-720 spectrometer measurement and spectral libraries. Our results illustrated rich minerals of content (Zn, Ca, Mg, K20, Fe2O3) thought to be important for medicinal treatment. To identify the importance of chemical elements in the study area, we compared with other samples results that also used sand for kinds of treatment. The Five Sand resort has very important geomorphological elements and also its tranquil environment, clear and extremely remoteness surroundings including ecological landscapes are unique for concrete resort development. 
 
Keywords: Bioregion, Geomorphology, Sanatorium, spectra and soil texture
INTRODUCTION
In the world today, there are many sanatoriums which treat many of chronic diseases, allergies, urology, skin problems, headaches, stress, fatigue and tuberculosis, but the few of them treats kidney diseases (G.Purevdorj 2006). One of the well experienced sand sanatoriums is the Five Sand where people from all over Mongolia visit during the peak period of June to end August. Five Sand summer sanatorium is one of the most popular and beautiful health resorts, at 17 km from Biger town and 1300 m above the sea level, it is situated in the western part of Mongolia. In 1979, this sanatorium was established in the Biger district of Gobi-Altai province to treat nationals who have pungent and chronic diseases of the kidney (Ch.Nyamdari 2006). Treatment of chronic diseases is very effective. We apply medical treatment to the following cases of degenerative injures, improves circulation, decrease the frequency of inflammatory and prevent the degeneration, decrease the medicines application and eliminate injures. 
The power sources of the treatment at the resort have traditions with the natural sand baths, sunshine, clear micro-bio-climate and the clean environment. In addition, patients are also given camel milk a daily to enhance the treatment. 
The sand bath known as one of the scenic spots in Japan is using plentiful hot spring water and recreational thermal instructions which contains sodium, chloride and many medicinal benefits. It can be used to treat neuralgia, rheumatism, lumbago, sub-acromial bursitis, arthritis, and paralytic. In addition, women use the sand bath as whole body beauty treatment. Moreover, the steam sand bath, as a Japanese style sauna, is very popular among foreigners. Many of the hot springs and mineral springs around the world which contain strong and not strong concentrations of minerals (Altmen.N, 2000). Bathing in mineral springs that containing the sulfur and sulfates to strengthen an immune system and to kill bacteria and fungi for healing skin conditions. 
The medical treatment includes hydrogen sulfide, pearl or sand baths, and mud poultice, which highly mineralized with a high concentration of sulphates, calcium, natrium and sodium as well as contains biologically active substances, biogenious stimulators and microelements, such as iodine, copper, strontium and molybdenum. The pH (potential of hydrogen) value is determined primarily by the amount of calcium and magnesium salts the water contains: greater the amount, and lower the pH. (Altman.N,2000). According to several literatures mineral sources, therapeutic mud, climate fresh and dry air, and other natural conditions favorable for treatment may be deemed resorts and sanatoriums.
A sanatorium in Europa is also much care the construction of buildings that should provide tranquil surroundings, good rest and natural environment for patients to get better health therapy. The building architecture structure considered the sunshine balconies, windows and glazed walls, corridors, placement of the spaces for gardens, landscape, environmental maintenance, vegetation and trees in the near surroundings (Margarethe.E. el.al 2005). 
 
The sand is absorbing a solar thermal energy, thus from earlier people have been used the sand bathtubs to treat the cold diseases (dagdanbazar.B.,el.al 2006). According to G.Stoners at el (1980) and T.Baasan (2006), important sand characteristics to take application for treatment include soil texture, history of sand origin, age, granulometris composition, color, and surrounding micro-bio climate, geomorphology structure and geomagnetic effect. 
Since “Five sand” sanatorium founding 30 years ago, no scientific study has been carried out to analyze and examine the origins of the sand, the soil properties, topography, its natural resources and socio-economical indicators which give the its uniqueness appeal so that concluded from “Natural-Sand-Ecology-Treatment-Biger 2006” workshop. Consequently, analyzing the soil properties and geomorphologies are great importance for sustainable development of the sanatorium, especially for kidney patients who get refresh treatment from this sanatorium. Recently, because of publicity of the clean and pristine surroundings and result of treatment, the number of “eco-tourists” and patients has risen. 
The main purpose of this study is identifying the soil properties using spectral and laboratory analyses on the field site and to give evaluation on how important that for eco-treatment in the case of “Five sand” sanatorium. A development advantage of this study is uses two different approaches to investigate soil properties by physical and chemical analyses on collected samples and spectral analyses on the field and Imagery by spectral references as well as investigate the its ecotourism resources and destinations using field measurements and mapping visualization. 
 
STUDY AREA 
Landscape and the natural environment
The “five sand” kidney sanatorium is situated in the town of Biger, in province of Gobi-Altai, western south Mongolia (figure1). The sanatorium area is situated seventeen kilometres from the centre of Biger town where is located on head water of biger river and area of sand dunes. The “Five sand” occupies a very unique geographic location between the highest Mountain ranges of Mongol Altai and Khukh Serkh Mountain range and just at the headwaters of the Biger Lake in the Biger Valley (97.20 E, 45.43 N). This is a valley area consisting mainly of grassland and such sandy, dry ground with saxaul forest and brush woods. The “Five sand” is stretched 50-60 barchans chain, from the northwest to the southeast approximately 10 km length and width ranging from 0.6-1.6 km, and high is 10-20 m its main high barchans ridges are 5 pieces because so called the “Five sand” that is one of the popular sand dunes in Mongolia. The entire “Five sands” region is situated 1340 to 1387m above sea level. 
Figure1   Location of the study area
The macroclimate of the “Five sand” area is characterized as continental harsh, semi-arid, desert dry and warm, salty, humid and mild. Winter annual average air temperature is -15oC, summer annual average air temperature is +28oC, Surface temperature is 50-70oC, Annual average precipitation 72.6mm and Sunshine 3103 hours/year.
Indeed, the location still offers a quiet hospital environment surrounded by natural beauty. The surroundings and scenery of the sanatorium were dominated, by Gobi brush wood and valleys grass land in its natural state. A wide valley encircled by beautiful mountains, the Biger sub province is home to many different agricultural crops and orchards and is rich in natural and complex resources including, abundant sources of various medicinal plants, many types of rock paintings, field caves, salt, saline soil and majestic looking high sand dunes. 
 
The construction of the Sanatorium
In January 1979, Doctor Kh.Terbish and Medical expert group signed utilize the sanatorium with Biger governors while decided a recent place. The planning of the Five Sand sanatorium has been continued immediately, after the competition results of visitation groups. From July of 1980, the Five Sand sanatorium had been started its services with 10 Ger houses with 1 doctor and other staffs. The sanatorium camp complex includes: the main building (four parallel) for patients, the horizontal building for the officers and doctors, and the kitchen build, which are built in the different years. Outside of the sanatorium area, though still part of the sanatorium complexes, that water pumping station, car park, a volleyball court and a biological waste purification area and extended an area of additional Ger housing surrounded by grass zone. Due to its size and shape, the main building of the sanatorium dominates its surroundings. It is situated centrally on the longest part of the terrain on a west axis. The staff house was arrayed freely in the front of main building. The water pumping station is situated western south of the camp area and the biological waste purification is correspondingly south of the area. The east edge of the camp area is delineated by the additional Ger houses and other field. The nearby sanatorium is a landscape area of local importance for nomadic herders.
 
Number of inhabitants within the sanatorium
There are presently 20 members of staff, most of them are part timer in the sanatorium because of seasonality work. There are places for 150 patients, but each day is considerably more people visiting for enjoying and treatment appointments. Approximately 2500 people live in the area of the Biger town. The residents of the region make their livelihood from nomadic pasture herding. The economy revolves from the animal husbandry and agriculture activities. The local communities and City Admission coordinates are planning to organize the local tour to the around resort. Visitors get to see the other attractions and natural, cultural and historical monuments which are placed in the near sanatorium. It would be possible to increase the number of visitors or the size of the groups from the present number. Until establish this sanatorium the national patients went to Bairam Ali sanatorium of turkey. As a result of treatment, the number of chronic kidney sufferers decreased, though from the beginning of the 1980s onwards. 
 
Sanatorium treatment
The sanatorium offers natural unlimited-size of baths, clean ecological medical treatment, with the allowing appliances: super surround, solar ultra magnetic beach, and pleasant atmosphere, unurban environment with wild animals and kinds of plants, sports beach court, and rest, free time and consulting rooms with doctors. The treatment is taking on the nature, when person come to sanatorium they should be get their location in somewhere of the sand dunes (your liked position) through use it until leave the resort. This unique experience, applied a sand temperature of 45-60c for 8 to 15 minutes, 2 times a day during 2 to 3 weeks. In five sand, 15 minutes is considered adequate time for a sand bath, but the beginners start from 8 minutes then increasing up to 20 minutes. They involve lie the whole body (except a head) into thermal sand bath during 8 to 15 minutes then nurses take off patients from sand bath to clean sands using other dry sand. After taking sand bath do not take a shower or cold waters to wash off sand, it already cleaned by dry sand. 
 
METHOD 
Used data and processing  
In this study used been ground truth data (2008) that first expedition of Keio university, national University of Mongolia and Five Sand sanatorium members were collected the sand, soil and water samples using hand instruments, from July 14 to August 24, 2008. Moreover this study used been Landsat TM data (1989 and 2002) for investigate a geomorphological elements, sand properties, sand movement process, and natural resources for tour destinations in around sanatorium.
 
Image Processing
The Enhanced thematic mapper Landsat satellite image has four bands in the VNIR and two bands in the SWIR wavelength region 1989 and 2002. The purpose of using two Landsat scenes is to detect changes in soil composition and land cover changes. In particular, the SWIR bands were intended for the discrimination of minerals or rock types (Yamaguchi et.al 2001, 2005). Due to the increased numbers of bands hyper spectral sensors and multispectral sensors like ASTER provide a new analysis methods have become available in recent years (Baumgardner 1985, Broadmen 1993, Van Der Meer et al. 2003, G.Waldhoff 2008 et al.). These methods are based on the fact that every material exhibits a unique spectral signature in the electromagnetic spectrum. Thus for mapping the surface composition, image derived reflectance spectra of the pictured earth surface are compared to known reference spectra of materials, also referred to as endmembers (Adams and Gillespie 2006).  Endmembers can be obtained from different sources like field measurements by spectrometer, spectral libraries (ASTER spectral library, USGS spectral library et al) and image data itself.
 
The softwares used for the analysis are ArcGIS 9.3 and ERDAS Imagine 9.3 which are identifying the detailed information about surface morphology, soil types, soil properties and sand movement in the interested area.  The pre-processing of satellite images we performed the atmospheric correction, histogram matching and Minimum Noise Fraction which are important for next step to do spectral analysis and classifications. Even though Landsat image spectral resolution is not the highest where used spectral bands 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 for investigate geomorphological characters, and mineral component of the sand area that also have been used for sand movement analysis. The processing of landsat data was used STRM elevation data (DEM) 90 m resolution. Unfortunately the sand dunes high are about 15 meters that’s why not available in this study, results that carried out from field truth.
We were used MS-720 spectrometer for spectral measurement on the surface features analysis in the study area. MS-720 is hand-heid instrument with an integrated LCD and an intemal memory (http://www.eko-usa.com/applications/index.html). This spectroradiometer is mainly applied for ground truth of geological features, vegetation, oceanography, remote sensing data and spectral measurement of the range from visible to near infrared radiation that obtained data can downloaded to PC through RS232C or USB, and processed there using "720Man.exe", software and the data were saved and edited in the PG. "720Man.exe" calculates the integral radiation irradiance and compares the data with the reference data.
 
Soil sample collects and laboratory analysis 
Out of the 12 soil samples and two water samples were collected from target area that was performed to soil and geological laboratory analyses. The analysis of the soil in the laboratory included the pH, moisture content, organic matter, soil texture contents as well as chemical concentration detection of Calcium (Ca), Zinc (Zn), Magnum (Mg), Potassium component (K2O), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Iron component (Fe2O3) and some of complex elements which is important for medical. There were used 2 kinds of laboratory analysis. One of them is Central geological laboratory that is a complex service laboratory accredited in the international and national level which is specialized the analyzing for several mineral resources, its elemental and mineralogical composition and physical-chemical parameters. They were prepared a samples step by crushers, pulverizes, splitters and then coming to analyses. There were investigated a major and minor elements (over 44 elements) on the one soil sample applied quantitative X-ray fluorescence analysis method.
Another laboratory is Soil Science laboratory of Geography Institute that was identified the soil texture content, grain size, limited chemical contents, salty and composition of the water. Here were performed 5 soil samples and one water sample.  In the water sample was analyzed the water soluble salt that is one of important component which mean is defined the water chemical compositions in the main useful sand dune. 
 
RESULT 
Image Analysis result
Spectral signatures have been derived from per sample and landsat imagery. These have been examined in main recognizing region of variation between the samples and imagery as well as common peaks and sinks. We were used not highest spectral resolution of techniques its result almost same that displayed in figure 2. 
 
Figure 2 Spectrometer measurements in the Field truth
The spectral analysis results of the imagery is not possible to compare with advanced spectral analysis where we recommended the hyper spectral like Aster data for future study. Thus results of images can show the geomorphologycal characters and land cover types. The types of classifications have also been performed on both of images to define the distribution of different soil types and geomorphological characters in the interest area. The results are informed in table 1. The beach at sand dunes is 10 km long and about 1000m wide. The temperature of the sand is really pleasant, usually reaching up to 40 C. The legend about the Sands is fine, golden- yellow colour, and course clear wonderful sand, and clean air coming down from the mountains. The average daily temperature in the resort is 25 C; it gets 1700 hours of sunshine from May till September.
 
Latitude                                45.73                                
Longitude                            97.33
Geology                               Alluvial silts
Annual precipitation         66.9mm
Annual temperature         25.50C
Wind speed                       3.1m/s
Elevation                            1318-1333m
 
Dunes type
            Number of dunes         40-50
            Color                               Pale orange
            Average grain size       19.8mm
            Direction                         NNW-SSE
            Aspect                            160-1800
            Slope                              29-320
            Heights                          8-15m
            Width                              0.25-1.4 km
            Length                            10 km
 
 
Table 1  Geomorphological components of the sand dunes
 
Laboratory analysis results
The result from soil laboratory analysis summarized in Table 2, which investigated the pH, moisture content (MC), organic matter(OM), soil texture contents, as well as chemical concentration of Calcium (Ca), Potassium component (K2O), and some of complex elements. The result of water analysis that  sample took from Biger River were contained contents of salt 534mg/dm3, Ph -7.44, and sum of anion and kation 425.4 mg/dm3 that lie in the west side of sand dunes. It is important to note that the analysis of 5 out of 12 samples has been show. The remaining 1 sample was analyzed in the Central geological laboratory.
The result from Central geological laboratory was investigated the several mineral resources, its elemental and mineralogical composition and detailed major and minor elements (over 44 elements) by quantitative X-ray fluorescence analysis method. Table2 Physics and chemical composition in the Five sand 2008
The result of this analysis shows the several necessary biological activity elements such as Ca 0.01, Zn 0.03, Cu 0.009, Mg 0.074, Sr 0.403, Pb 0.01percent which is important for treatment.
These results were compared with the results of other researchers study (Dr.Oyun, 2006) to define the sand uniqueness or good condition for sanatorium treatment. Because of her studied samples are also used the sand for kinds of treatment such as allergy, rashes, and back loin, stomach and kidney alignments et.al. According to (J.Oyun, T.Baasan 2006) the main minerals are contained the important medicinal elements that very useful for treatment. Figure4 shows the comparisons of chemical composition results which are important for treatment. 
 
Note: *Dornogobi (sand) is used for kidney treatment; Hanbogd (granite) it boiled drink for stomach and belly pains; Zavhan (sand) tried for treatment as like five sand; Five sand (sand) have been using for chronic kidney aliments, women and back loins; Selenge (Clay) used been allergy, pimple and rashes; DT (sand1 & 2) it melted in mouth.
Figur4  Comparison of the chemical composition of samples    
CONCLUSION
It is of main importance for the study, which soil properties and geomorphological elements can be extracted from the physics, chemical analysis and spectral analysis. The results of analysis for the interested area are rich contained the organic matter, concentration of Calcium, Magnesium and copper, calcium carbonates, and also aluminum, Potassium and Iron oxides which have played an important role for sanatorium treatment. Furthermore, the geomorphological condition and soil textures are identified very comfortable for treatment in this region. The result of this analysis shows some medical elements contained in the sand property therefore can useful for physical treatment with the other additional experiences. The environment ecosystem of “Five sand” region is very unique from other areas such as geographical location, micro-bio-climate, landscape and natural 
resources which are enough for future ecotourism development. Five Sand sanatorium is not threatened by any environmental changes without sand movement. There are no industrial complexes in the near resort may be when increasing number of visitors there are become one point density and landscape pressure. Conditions for different sports are possible to develop in Five Sands: beach volleyball, mini golf, tennis, sand skiing, basketball, horse riding, bowling, etc. 
 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We are grateful to the all members of this research fieldwork for helped to convenient staying condition, accessed the local destinations and their kindly advices to contributing work in the research area. I am grateful to my prof. H.Fukui, prof.R.Tsolmon and Mr.Y.Furuse from Falcon. Co.ltd for their kindly advices on field work and thanks to Kodoka research grants for financing this studies. 
 
REFERENCES
References from Journals and Books
Altman.N 2000, Healing springs: the ultimate guide to taking the waters from hidden springs to the world’s greatest spas, inner tradition international, Canada.
Bubenzer.O and Andreas.B, “The use of new elevation data (SRTM/ASTER) for the detection and morphometric quantification of Pleistocene mega dunes (Draa) in the eastern Sahara and the southern Namib” Elsevier, journal of geomorphology, 102, p 221-231, 2008.
Epema G.F., 1992, Spectral reflectance in the Tunisian desert, Ph.D. dissertation, Wageningen Agricultural University, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 150pp
Gillespie.A.R, J.B. Adams, M. O. Smith, S.C. Willis, A.F.Fischer and D.E. Sabol, 1990, Interpretation of residuals images: spectral mixture analysis of AVIRIS images, Owens Valley, California, Proceedings of the Airborne Science Workshop: AVIRIS, JPL, Pasadena, CA, (JPL Publication 90-54), 243-270. 
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Tsolmon.R, 2003 “ Methodology to Estimate Coverage and Biomass of Boreal Forests using Satellite Data” Ph.D. Dissertation, Center Environmental Remote Sensing, Chiba University, Japan 
Suvdantsetseg. B, H.Fukui, R.Tsolmon “Saxaul forest area determination by remote sensing in Mongolia’s Gobi region” The international achieves of the Photogrammetry, remote sensing and Spatial information science, vol, XXXVII, Part B8, p 1081-1086, Beijing 2008,
Waldhoff.G, O.Bubenzer, A.Bolten, W.Koppe and G.Bareth,  “spectral analysis of Aster, Hyperion, and Quickbird data for geomorphological and geological research in Egypt (Dakhla oasis, western desert)”, The international achieves of the Photogrammetry, remote sensing and Spatial information science, vol, XXXVII, Part B8, p 1201-1206, Beijing 2008,
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