GROUND WATER GEOLOGY

Q1. What is Hydrogeology?

Ans 1. Hydrogeology is the area of Geology that deals with the
movement and distributing of ground water in soil and rocks of
earth crust.

One of the important role of hydrologist is the prediction of

future behavior of aquifer system.
1. Can the aquifer support another subdivision.
2. Will the river dry up if farmer double his irrigation.
3. Did the chemicals used for dry cleaning facility travel
through my aquifer and made me sick.
Most of the questions can be addressed through
simulation of hydrologic system. Thus the common task of
hydrogeologist is to determine aquifer properties using
aquifer tests.

Q.2 Write a short note on following?

a. Aquifer
b. Aquitard
c. Aquiclude
d. Aquifuge

a. Aquifer- Aquifer is the saturated formation which not

only stores water but also yield in sufficient quantity.
Unconsolidated deposits of sand and gravel forms
Aquifer.
b. Aquitard- Aquitard is the saturated formation through
which only seepage is possible but its yield is
insufficient. It is partly permeable in nature. A sandy
clay unit is an example of Aquitard.
c. Aquiclude- Aquiclude is the saturated formation which
only stores water but never yields it. Thus it is
impermeable in nature. A clay unit is an example of
Aquiclude.
d. Aquifuge- Aquifuge is the saturated formation which
neither stores water nor yield it in sufficient quantity.
 Thus it is neither porous in nature nor permeable in
nature. Massive compacted rock without fractures is
example of Aquifuge.
Q. What are the Characteristics of Aquifer?
Ans- The various Characteristics of Aquifer are-:
1. Porosity- The amount of pore space per unit volume of
aquifer material is called porosity.
Porosity basically gives the measure of water
storing capacity of the aquifer material.
N= Vv/Vo (where Vv= Volume of voids and Vo=
Volume of porous medium)
Porosity greater than 20% is large.
Porosity between 5 and 20% is Medium.
Porosity less than 5% is small.

Porosity Range for some Materials

Material n% Material (n%)
Uncolidated Consolidated
Clay 45-60 Sand Stone 5-30
Silt 35-50 lime stone- 4-20
 2. Specific Yield- Porosity gives the measure of amount of
water that can be stored by aquifer material per unit
volume . It should be noted that not all the water is
available for extraction. Some quantity of water may be
hold back by the pores by means of molecular attraction
and surface tension. So the amount of water that can be
extracted per unit volume of aquifer is Specific yield and
the amount of water that is retained by the pores and is
not available for extraction is Specific retention.

Specific yields for Some Roads-

Consolidated material Specific yield %n
Sand stone 5-15 5-30
Lime stone 1-5 4-20

Q Write a short note on Unconfined and confined aquifer?

Ans- An Unconfined aquifer is the aquifer which is also
known as Water table aquifer. Water table in this type of
aquifer exists near the free surface below the atmospheric
pressure. Water occurring in this type of aquifer is called Free
Groundwater. A well driven into unconfined aquifer forms
static water level as compared to water table.
 A confined aquifer is the aquifer which is confined
between two impervious beds such as Aquicludes and
Aquifuges. The upper surface of the water in confined aquifer
is known as piezometric surface. Artisian aquifer is a type of
confined aquifer.

Q. Write a short note on Water table?

Ans
1. The static level of water in wells penetrating in the zone of
saturation is called water table.
2. The water table is often described as the subdued replica
of the surface topography. It is generally higher under hills
and lower under the valleys.
3. The water table is thus the surface of water body which is
constantly adjusting itself towards an equilibrium
condiditon with water moving from higher points to the
lower points.
4. If there is no recharge the water table would eventually
become horizontal.
5. Various factors such as variation in permeability of
aquifers, influence of lakes etc do make the watertable less
and less horizontal.
6. Because of these factors such as variation in permeability
of aquifers, influence of lakes etc equilibrium is rarely
attained before additional disturbance occurs.

Q. Write a short not on Artisian Well?

Ans - When the well is drilled in a confined aquifer, the
groundwater in it rises towards the surface. Such a Well is
called Artisian Well. The conditions necessary for the artesian
flow are as follows-:
1. Presence of an aquifer which must be confined between
two impermeable beds. These beds prevent the water
from escaping.
2. The aquifer must be inclined so that one end of it is
exposed to atmosphere from where it can receive water.

When such an aquifer is tapped, the pressure created due

to difference between the height of the water table in
the recharge area and the bottom of the well will cause
the water to rise. The friction reduces the height of
pressure surface.

Q. What do you mean by spring? What are the types of

Springs?

Ans- When the ground water flows out of the ground

surface, it is called Spring. It occurs when the water table
intersects the ground surface.

Types of Springs-
1. Water table spring- Water table springs are found in
depression where the ground level lies below the
water table.
2. Contact Spring- When an impervious bed lies below
the pervious beds, the groundwater flows out along
the contact if same is exposed by erosion.
 3. Karst spring- Erosion may expose carvenous rock such
as limestone containing groundwater. The spring
formed in such a way is Karst spring.
4. Fault spring- The flow of groundwater is checked along
the fault planes and it emerge out at the ground
surface forming a fault spring.
5. Mineral spring- Spring water may contain some
dissolved mineral matter in sufficient concentration as
to produce some taste or smell. Such a spring are
called mineral spring.
6. Thermal spring- The springs which discharge heated
water are called thermal spring.

Q Write a short note on Geological Map?

Ans Geological Maps

A Geological map of a given area is that particular map

which can exhibit clearly the topography as well as
geology of the particular area. The map should, be able
to inform the various existing rock types, the
arrangement of different rock beds below the ground,
the details of the existing structural geological features
 (like folds, faults, unconformities etc) besides revealing
brief geological history of the area and the various
topographic features.
The Geological map should therefore be able to speak
about the following four aspects:
1. About the topography of the area;
2. About the general geology of the area;
3. About the geological structures;
4. About the geological succession.

Such a geological map giving all information about the four

aspects enumerated above, is sometimes called topographical
geological map or countered geological map.

The important characteristics of a geological map are as

follows-:

1. The geological map shows the contact between various

rock units.
2. On the geological map the observed dip and strike of
rock bed are also shown.
3. The relative ages of strata are commonly shown by
index.
 4. The details regarding the existing geological features
like fold, faults etc are also shown in the map.

Q. Write a short note on Geological investigations?

Ans- Geological Investigation studies involve-:
1. Geological mapping of the area for an accurate
imformation regarding the lithological character, mode of
origin and petrological features of the rocks both on
surface and with depth.
2. Study of aquifer structure with special stress on its
exposure and relation with other material.

Geological investigation includes-

1. Geological mapping
2. Aerial photographs
3. test drilling .

Geological Maps
A Geological map of a given area is that particular map
which can exhibit clearly the topography as well as
geology of the particular area. The map should, be able
to inform the various existing rock types, the
arrangement of different rock beds below the ground,
the details of the existing structural geological features
(like folds, faults, unconformities etc) besides revealing
brief geological history of the area and the various
topographic features.

Aerial Photographs
During the recent past , studies have been made in the
use of aerial photography and remote sensing
techniquies for location of potential aquifers on the
globe.
In the aerial photography and satellite Imagery
stress is laid to delineate faults, fracture zones etc. These
photographs provide invaluable aids to hydrogeologists
in making thema concentrate their surface investigations
on really potential aquifer.

Test Drilling
It is a general practice to dig test wells in the area of
investigations after ascertaining the broader geological
features from hydrogeological maps. The test wells
provided accurate information regarding-:
1. Exact nature of the geological materials with depth.
2. Capacity of various formations to yield water.
3. Quality of water available.