6.1 Aquifers and Properties

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6.1 Aquifers and Properties

In the first part of this module, we will focus on the properties of aquifers: What characteristics of a rock or sediment make it a good aquifer? What are the different kinds of aquifers? Fundamentally, the ability to store and transmit water are the two key ingredients that make a subsurface geological formation useful as an aquifer. In Module 6.1, we will explore the detailed physical properties of rocks and sediments that ultimately affect the storage and movement of groundwater. We'll also illustrate with a series of well-known examples of large aquifers tapped for drinking, industrial, and agricultural uses.