A spring is a point where groundwater flows out of the ground, and is thus where the aquifer surface meets the ground surface.
Dependent upon the constancy of the water source (rainfall or snowmelt that infiltrates the earth), a spring may be ephemeral (intermittent) or perennial (continuous).
Water issuing from an artesian spring rises to a higher elevation than the top of the confined aquifer from which it issues. When water issues from the ground it may form into a pool or flow downhill, in surface streams. Sometimes a spring is termed a seep.
Minerals become dissolved in the water as it moves through the underground rocks. This may give the water flavour and even carbon dioxide bubbles, depending upon the nature of the geology through which it passes. This is why spring water is often bottled and sold as mineral water, although the term is often the subject of deceptive advertising. Springs that contain significant amounts of minerals are sometimes called 'mineral springs'. Springs that contain large amounts of dissolved sodium salts, mostly sodium carbonate, are called 'soda springs'. Many resorts have developed around mineral springs known as spa towns.
Water emanating from karst topography is another type of spring, often called a resurgence as much of the water may come from one or more sinkholes at a higher altitude. Karst springs generally are not subjected to as great a degree of ground filtering as spring water which may have continuously passed through soils or a porous aquifer.
The Background of this Spring
This area is made up of layers of limestone with a overlay of sandstone. We are just north of the Mammoth cave area of Kentucky and in this area in places the sandstone has cracks that allow surface water to work it’s way down to the limestone layer. The ground water then exits the limestone to form the spring you see here.
Back in this area before water line were run springs like this were the only water source. The early pioneers would build a small building or house over the spring to keep contaminates like dirt and leaves out. The rock on the bottom was carved out so that a bucket could be dipped in. These houses usually had walls on three sides and a door on the forth side.
If you look closely you can still see the foundation of the old Springhouse at this site.
E-mail me the answers to the below questions, do not post the answers on this page.
1. Give me an estimate of how much water per minute comes from this spring
2. Looking at the old foundation, estimate how big that this springhouse used to be.
3. Take a photo of you and your GPS at the location
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