ODEN'S FLOWING ARTESIAN WELL EARTHCACHE EarthCache
Hidden : 1/13/2010
Difficulty:
2.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size: other (other)

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Geocache Description:

ARTESIAN WELLS are named after the former providence in Artois in France, where many artesian wells were drilled by Carthesian monks since 1126. The technique was also known much earler in Syria and Egypt.

This well and others in the area are produced from carbonate-rock acquifer. The average thickness of the carbonate rocks that compose most of this acquifer is about 300-400 feet. This acquifer also contains some sandstone and shale.

There are more than a few of these wells in the area and many homes in the area are connected to artesian wells.

Artesian wells are really very simple in 'design'. In areas where rainfall seeps between two layers of impermeable rock or clay, an acquifer is formed.

An acquifer is a porous layer of rock filled with water up to the level of the water table. Where an acquifer slopes, the force of gravity on the upper levels of water presses on water lower down. It's impermeable 'walls' maintain this preasure.

An artesian well pierces the walls of the acquifer below the water table, and the preasure from the weight of the water above the water level forces the water out of the well. The difference in elevation between the water table and the point the well enters the acquifer determines the preasure of the well.

The water from this source flows indefiinitely under its own hydrostatic preasure so it is known as a 'flowing well.'

Springs also occur where the surface of the ground naturally taps into the acquifer below the water table. In areas where a sloping acquifer occurs fairly close to the surface, artesian wells can be placed quickly and inexpensively, especially if the wall of the acquifer is of soft material or of clay.

TRY THIS EXPERIMENT to show yoursself how artesian preasure works. Fill a plastic bag with water, put a straw through the opening, tape the opening around the straw closed, then squeeze the baggie - atersian water is pushed out thru the straw.

TO RECEIVE CREDIT for this EarthCache simply:

1- Try the above mentioned experiment. How did it go?

2-Estimate how deep the water table is in the area - to do that, find the elevation of the nearest open water and compare the difference of the elevation at the artesian well.

3- The difference in _______ between the water table and the point the water enters the acquifer determines the preasure of the well.

4- Post a picture of yourself with your GPSr at this artesian well. (pic optional of course)

5- Submit answers & pic to my geocachinig profile

Try Greater Petoskey Area Earthcache Challenge at GC2HRCN.

Great USA weather tenp/map: (visit link)

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