Groundwater and Structural Geology Module
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Questions and Answers

What material is described as essentially impermeable in the experiment?

  • Gravel
  • Clay (correct)
  • Sand
  • Limestone

    • Which material allowed the most water to pass through during the demonstration?

  • Clay
  • Sand
  • Gravel (correct)
  • Shale

    • What is the permeability of sand compared to gravel?

  • Non-existent compared to gravel
  • Equal to gravel
  • Lower than gravel (correct)
  • Higher than gravel

    • Which of the following materials serves as a good groundwater reservoir under specific circumstances?

    <p>Sandstone (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why are materials like clay and unfractured rocks barriers to groundwater flow?

    <p>They are impermeable. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What feature must be identified to quantify the availability of groundwater?

    <p>Water table (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to water on the land surface that infiltrates the ground?

    <p>It becomes groundwater. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of an aquifer?

    <p>To serve as a storage reservoir for groundwater (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of aquifer is directly connected to Earth's surface?

    <p>Open aquifer (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What materials typically restrict the flow of groundwater?

    <p>Clay and shale (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterizes confined aquifers?

    <p>They are separated by confining units (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do interconnected spaces within an aquifer play?

    <p>They store and allow free flow of water (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best defines a confining unit?

    <p>A layer with poor porosity and permeability (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What primarily supplies water to confined aquifers?

    <p>Streamflow or precipitation in locations where the aquifer materials surface. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can cause a decline in the depth of the water table?

    <p>Consuming groundwater more rapidly than it is replenished. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of aquifers are predominantly found in southern states in the U.S.?

    <p>Sandstone aquifers. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of plate motion generates earthquakes when plates move apart?

    <p>Divergent motion (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What occurs when two tectonic plates collide, causing one to subduct beneath the other?

    <p>Compression (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of fault occurs as a result of tension in the crust?

    <p>Normal fault (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for a fold that has an upward bend?

    <p>Anticline (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of fault is characterized by rocks sliding past each other horizontally?

    <p>Strike-slip fault (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What geological feature is formed by compressive forces causing layers to bend downwards?

    <p>Syncline (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flashcards

    What is an aquifer?

    An underground body of rock or sediment that stores groundwater, like a giant sponge.

    What is porosity?

    Spaces within a rock or sediment that allow water to be stored and flow through it.

    What is permeability?

    The ability of rock or sediment to allow water to flow through it.

    What are unconfined aquifers?

    They are directly connected to the surface and water can easily flow into and out of them.

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    What are confined aquifers?

    They are separated from the surface by layers of impermeable rock or sediment.

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    What is a confining unit?

    A layer of clay, shale or other low permeability material that restricts or prevents the flow of groundwater.

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    What are confining layers?

    Layers of clay, shale or other low permeability materials that act as barriers for groundwater flow and may separate aquifer systems.

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    What is the water table?

    The water table is the top surface of the saturated zone in an aquifer.

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    Unconfined aquifer

    An aquifer that is directly connected to the land surface, allowing water to easily flow into it.

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    Water table

    The upper surface of an unconfined aquifer, where the ground is saturated with water.

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    Confined aquifer

    An aquifer that is isolated from the land surface by a layer of impermeable rock or clay, preventing direct water infiltration.

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    Artesian wells

    Wells drilled into confined aquifers that release water under pressure, without needing a pump.

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    Porosity

    The measure of empty space in a rock or sediment, determining how much water it can hold.

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    Sandstone aquifer

    A type of rock formed from cemented sand grains, often good for storing groundwater.

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    Limestone aquifer

    A type of rock that dissolves easily, creating large spaces for groundwater storage.

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    Glacial deposits

    Deposits of sand and gravel left behind by glaciers, often forming shallow aquifers.

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    What are pores?

    Spaces between particles of soil, sediment, or rock, which can hold water. They are key for groundwater storage.

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    What is the zone of aeration?

    The zone above the water table where the ground may be damp but pores are not fully filled with water.

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    What is the zone of saturation?

    The zone below the water table where pores are completely filled with water and where groundwater flows.

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    How does groundwater move?

    Groundwater that is constantly moving downslope and eventually returns to the ocean.

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    What is infiltration?

    The process by which water on the land surface enters the ground through the soil and into the underlying rock.

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    What is a rift?

    When two tectonic plates move apart, creating a gap or crack in the Earth's crust.

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    What is a normal fault?

    A type of fault that forms when the Earth's crust is pulled apart, causing one block of rock to slide down relative to the other.

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    What is a thrust fault?

    A type of fault that forms when the Earth's crust is pushed together, causing one block of rock to slide up relative to the other.

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    What is a transform fault?

    A type of fault that forms when two tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally.

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    What is an anticline?

    An upward bend in rock layers caused by compression forces.

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    What is a syncline?

    A downward bend in rock layers caused by compression forces.

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    What is divergent motion?

    This type of plate movement occurs when two plates are moving apart from each other, often at mid-ocean ridges.

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    What is convergent motion?

    This type of plate movement happens when two plates collide, one subducting under the other.

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    What is transform motion?

    This type of plate movement occurs when two plates slide past each other horizontally, causing earthquakes.

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    What is a strike-slip fault?

    This type of motion occurs when two blocks of rock slide past each other horizontally, causing a lateral offset.

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    Study Notes

    Groundwater and Structural Geology Module

    • Groundwater accounts for about a quarter of the US freshwater supply, primarily used for domestic and agricultural purposes.
    • Two key properties for understanding groundwater are porosity and permeability.
    • Porosity is the proportion of void space in a material.
    • Permeability is the ability of water to flow through a material.
    • Groundwater is commonly stored in the spaces between grains of sand and gravel.
    • Porosity was demonstrated using a beaker filled with gravel and water, showing approximately 40% of the volume was pore space. Similar experiments were conducted using sand, showing approximately 33% porosity.
    • Permeability varies among different materials (e.g., gravel, sand, clay). Gravel has high permeability allowing water to flow quickly, clay has low permeability. Experiments showed different flow rates among materials when water was poured through funnels containing these materials.
    • Different rock types can have varying porosity and permeability. Sandstone, which is compacted sand, has reduced porosity compared to loose sand, however, can still be a good aquifer. Limestone, which can dissolve to form large spaces, can also be an aquifer in some formations. Igneous and metamorphic rocks generally have low permeability due to lack of porosity.

    Water Table

    • The water table is the top of the saturated zone, marking the boundary between the soil with water-filled pore spaces and the unsaturated zone containing only partially filled pore spaces.
    • Water table levels are influenced by groundwater consumption and precipitation, as seen in examples from different areas like eastern North Carolina and Western Kansas. Water levels decline with increased consumption.
    • Water table can be measured using wells. Reflecting water levels in wells are used to determine water table depth.
    • Groundwater is extracted using wells and their positions relative to the ground surface depend on the water table's specific elevation. Wells are usually drilled to ensure water table is reached to facilitate extraction.

    Aquifers

    • Aquifers are underground reservoirs of rock or sediment containing groundwater.
    • Aquifers are categorized into unconfined (open) and confined (closed).
    • Unconfined aquifers are directly connected to the water table above; confined aquifers are separated from the surface water by an impermeable layer.
    • Different materials like sandstone, gravel, and limestone form aquifers with varying permeabilities. Sand and gravel aquifers are more common than limestone aquifers.

    Plate Tectonics

    • Plate tectonics describe the movement of Earth's lithospheric plates (crust and upper mantle). Three main types of plate motions:
    • Divergent: Plates move apart, creating new crust (e.g., mid-ocean ridges).
    • Convergent: Plates collide, leading to subduction or mountain building.
    • Transform: Plates slide past each other (e.g., San Andrea's Fault).
    • Evidence of these motions, including folds and faults, are found in different geologic formations.
    • Normal faults and reverse faults are types of faults that occur due to tension and compression in rocks from plate motions.
    • Transform faults occur due to lateral stress, and involve one plate sliding past another.
    • Folds and rifts are also structural features associated with plate tectonic activity. These features provide evidence of past movements in rocks.

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    Related Documents

    G102 Groundwater and Structural Geology Module PDF

    Description

    Explore the essential concepts of groundwater, including its significance in the US freshwater supply and the key properties of porosity and permeability. Understand how these characteristics influence the storage and movement of water through different geological materials. Engage with practical experiments that illustrate these principles.

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