What Is a Groundwater Aquifer?

An underground aquifer is a rock mass that is capable of giving and permeating a significant amount of water. Most of these water-containing rocks are layered, so they are called aquifers. Such as sand, gravel and so on.

An underground aquifer is a rock mass that is capable of giving and permeating a significant amount of water. Most of these water-containing rocks are layered, so they are called aquifers. Such as sand, gravel and so on.

Chinese name

Groundwater aquifer

Foreign name

groundwater aquifer

Short name

Aquifer

Definition

Soil and rock formations that penetrate and produce a certain amount of water

Groundwater aquifer characteristics

1) The groundwater confined water level is high, and in some areas in the early stage of mining, the water level is higher than the ground, and the well can flow; 2) The water-containing sand layer is thick, the water conductivity is strong, and the water output of the well is large; The pressure water level is not easily affected by climatic conditions. For shallow water, it is considered that: 1) lack of good aquifer sand layer or small thickness of sand layer and small water output from wells; 2) poor aquifer water conductivity and relatively small lateral recharge; 3) shallow water quality is poor and easy Contaminated by surface water. Under this understanding, many rural and urban areas exploited deep confined groundwater in a large amount in the 1960s and 1970s. In particular, the policy guidance in some places also encouraged the exploitation of deep water, and subsidies were provided for drilling deep wells, while subsidies were not granted for shallow wells . Due to the large-scale exploitation of deep water, the confined water level has dropped significantly, forming a large-area confined water level drop funnel.

The difference between groundwater aquifers and aquifers

The division of aquifers and aquifers is relative, and there is no absolute boundary between them. Under certain conditions, the two can be transformed into each other. Such as the clay layer, under normal conditions, because the pores are small, full of bound water, impervious to water and water, it acts as a water barrier. However, under the action of large head pressure, part of the water is combined with water to move into aquifers. In a broad sense, there are no absolutely water-free rock formations in nature.

Classification and characteristics of aquifer shape of groundwater aquifer

Pore water. Groundwater distributed in pores of rock and soil. It is mainly distributed in loose sediments. Quaternary alluvial, alluvial, and icy water deposited sand and gravel layers have a large amount of groundwater and good water quality, which can be used as a water supply source. Fissure water. Groundwater distributed in cracks in rock mass. It is mainly distributed in fault fracture zones and surface weathering fissures, and generally has less water than pore water. Karst water. Also known as karst water, it is distributed in the karst fissures of soluble rock formations and groundwater in karst caves. Due to the different karst development and climatic conditions, the burial conditions of karst water are various. Generally, when the karst cave is large and the fracture is wide, the rock mass has strong water permeability, but the distribution is uneven. If the atmospheric precipitation is abundant, karst water is abundant. Karst water is a good source of water. However, catastrophic sudden gushing can occur in the construction of mines and underground buildings. ^[1]