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Porosity refers to the amount of empty space that is between particles of material. When something has a low porosity, it does not have much of this space between its particles.

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What rocks have a high permeability and low porosity?

Rocks that typically exhibit high permeability and low porosity include certain types of fractured or well-sorted sandstones and some volcanic rocks, such as basalt. In these cases, the presence of fractures or intergranular spaces allows fluids to flow easily through the rock, despite the overall volume of void spaces being relatively low. Additionally, some limestone formations can also have high permeability if they are highly fractured. These characteristics make such rocks important in fields like hydrogeology and petroleum engineering.


Is it better to have high or low permeability with a good aquifer?

It is better to have high permeability with a good aquifer. High permeability allows water to flow more easily through the aquifer, making it easier to extract and transport water for human use. Low permeability can restrict water flow and make it more difficult to access water from the aquifer.


How permeable is basalt?

Basalt is considered to have low to moderate permeability, meaning it allows some water to flow through it, but at a slower rate compared to more porous rocks. This can vary depending on factors such as the porosity and fractures within the basalt.


What is most important in determining the amount of ground water that can be stored within a rock?

The most important factor in determining the amount of groundwater that can be stored within a rock is its porosity, which refers to the volume of voids or spaces in the rock that can hold water. Additionally, the permeability of the rock, or its ability to transmit water through those voids, also plays a crucial role. Rocks with high porosity and permeability, such as sandstone, can store and transmit more groundwater than those with low values, like granite or shale. Other factors, such as the rock's mineral composition and structure, can also influence groundwater storage capacity.


What type of rock does not let water through it?

Impermeable rocks, such as granite and shale, do not allow water to pass through them easily because they have low porosity and permeability. These rocks are good for constructing dams or lining reservoirs to prevent water seepage.

Related Questions

Can a rock have high porosity but low permeability?

Yes, it is possible for a rock to have high porosity, meaning it has a lot of open spaces or pores, but low permeability, indicating that the pores are not well connected or that the rock's structure hinders the flow of fluids. As a result, while the rock can hold a lot of fluid within its pores, the fluid may not be able to flow easily through it.


Compare the porosity and the permeability of an aquifer with the porosity and the permeability of a layer of shale beneath the aquifer?

The permeability and porosity of an aquifer is very high, air and pretty much any liquid can pass trough it with ease. Where as shale has very little porosity making it virtually impossible for air or liquid to pass through.


Porosity is the amount of pore space in soils. Permeability is the ability of water to pass through the soil. Why do some soils have high porosity but low permeability?

Some soils may have high porosity due to a large number of interconnected pore spaces, but low permeability because the pores are small and not well connected. This restricts the movement of water through the soil, despite the high porosity.


What is a rocks ability to allow water to pass through?

Permeability/ hydraulic conductivity.


What is the difference between porosity and permeability in subsurface materials?

Porosity refers to the amount of pore space within a material, while permeability refers to the ability of fluids to flow through that material. Materials can have high porosity but low permeability if the pore spaces are not interconnected or are blocked, which would inhibit fluid flow. Conversely, materials with high permeability typically have interconnected pore spaces that allow fluids to flow easily.


What rock is low in porosity and low in permeability?

Metamorphic rocks like marble and quartzite are typically low in porosity and permeability due to their dense and compact nature. These rocks have undergone intense pressure and heat, which has resulted in their tight interlocking mineral grains that limit the movement of fluids through them.


What is low porosity and high porosity?

big particles=low porosity small particles=high porosity


Why does some earth materials hold more water than others?

Earth materials vary in their capacity to hold water due to differences in their porosity and permeability. Porosity refers to the amount of pore space within a material, while permeability describes how easily water can flow through it. Materials with high porosity and permeability, such as sand and gravel, can hold more water compared to materials with low porosity and permeability, such as clay and bedrock.


Which is an accurate description of sandy soil?

moderate porosity, low permeability.


What does soil permeability mean?

Soil permeability refers to the ability of soil to allow water or other liquids to flow through it. It is dependent on factors such as the soil composition, texture, structure, and porosity. Soils with high permeability allow water to pass through quickly, while those with low permeability hold water and may become waterlogged.


What kind of rocks have high and low porosity and permeability?

High porosity and permeability are typically found in sedimentary rocks such as sandstone and limestone, which have interconnected pore spaces that allow fluids to flow easily. Conversely, igneous rocks like granite and metamorphic rocks such as schist generally have low porosity and permeability due to their dense, crystalline structures that lack significant pore spaces. The properties of rocks can significantly affect their ability to store and transmit fluids, making these characteristics important in fields like geology and petroleum engineering.


Does silt have high permeability?

Silt has neither high or low permeability. It has moderate permeability. :) !