Aquifer Geology Aquifer Geology and Geographyand Geography

Permeable materials Permeable materials such as sandstone, such as sandstone,

limestone and limestone and layers of sand and layers of sand and

gravelgravel

Recharge ZoneRecharge Zone

•Ground surface where Ground surface where water enters an aquiferwater enters an aquifer

•Dependent on Dependent on permeabilitypermeability

Springs and WellsSprings and Wells

•Movement determined by the Movement determined by the slope of the water tableslope of the water table

•If the water table reaches the If the water table reaches the Earth’s surface water will flow out Earth’s surface water will flow out of the ground (Spring)of the ground (Spring)

•Water table higher than the Water table higher than the Earth’s surface lakes will form.Earth’s surface lakes will form.

Artesian WellArtesian Well

•Water flows Water flows from a from a crack in the crack in the cap rock of cap rock of an aquifer.an aquifer.

http://www.bartleby.com/images/A4images/A4artwel.jpg

Hot SpringsHot Springs

•one one form of form of an an artesiaartesian welln well

http://www.personal.engin.umich.edu/~yeq/images/YellowStone%201/Mammoth%20Hot%20Springs%201.jpg

WellsWells•A human A human

made hole made hole that is deeper that is deeper than the level than the level of the water of the water tabletable

http://mainegov-images.informe.org/doc/nrimc/mgs/sites-1999/oct99-1.gif

Cave FormationsCave Formations

•The underground The underground erosion of limestoneerosion of limestone

•Caused by carbonic acidCaused by carbonic acid

DepositionDeposition•Deposits of calcium Deposits of calcium carbonatecarbonate

StalactitesStalactites

•StalactitesStalactites-form from -form from the ceilingthe ceiling

http://www.goodearthgraphics.com/virtcave/staltite/stal1.jpg

StalagmitesStalagmites•StalagmiteStalagmites-form from s-form from dripping dripping waterwater

http://www.dudleycc.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/stalagmites.jpg

Dripstone ColumnDripstone Column

http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/images/cavecol1.jpg

SinkholesSinkholes

•When the water table is When the water table is lower than the level of a lower than the level of a cavecave

•Results in the roof Results in the roof collapsingcollapsing

http://www.sinkholes.net/new_page_1_files/image006.gif