What is Aquifuge, Aquifer, Aquiclude and Aquitard in Geological Formations

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What is Aquifuge?
Aquifuge is a geological formation that is not porous nor permeable. There is an absence of
interconnected openings so it cannot transmit water. Any massive compact rock without any
fractures is called an aquifuge. Solid rocks are a type of Aquifuge.

What is an Aquifer?
An Aquifer is a saturated formation of earth material that not only stores water but also
yields it in sufficient quantity. It is a permeable stratum or a geological formation of
permeable material. Aquifers are capable of yielding large quantities of available
groundwater under gravity. The aquifer transmits water relatively easily due to its high
permeability. Sand and gravel of unconsolidated deposits form good aquifers.

Types of Aquifer

1. Unconfined Aquifer

 Unconfined aquifers are also known as water table aquifers or non-artesian aquifer
 This is a free water surface aquifer which means there exist a water table
  Through the infiltration of precipitation from the ground surface, the recharging of
these aquifers takes place.
 If a well is driven into an unconfined aquifer it will indicate a static water level
corresponding to the water table level at that location.

2. Confined Aquifer

 Confined aquifers are also known as an artesian aquifer

 The aquifers which are embedded between two impervious beds of Aquiclude or
Aquifuge are called a confined aquifer
 These aquifers are recharged from the places which are opened or exposed to the
ground surface
 The piezometric level will be much higher in this aquifer than the top level of the
aquifer due to the water under pressure
 If both of the confining beds of a Confined aquifer are aquitards then it is also called
a leaky aquifer.

What is Aquiclude?
Aquiclude is a geological formation that is impermeable which means it does not allow the
passage of water through it. But it is highly porous so it contains a large amount of water in
it.One example of aquiclude is clay.

What is Aquitard?

An aquitard, or confining unit, is a low-permeability unit that can store groundwater and transmit

it slowly from one aquifer to another

Aquitards only act as a barrier to the flow of water but allow the seepage of water through
the aquitards.
Difference between aquifer, aquiclude, aquitard, and aquifuge

Aquifer Aquiclude Aquitard Aquifuge

These are These are These are partly These are

permeable impermeable permeable impermeable

There is a yield
There is a yield of These do not yield of water but the These do not yield
water water yielding will be water
so slow

This can store This can store This cannot store

This can store water
water water water

Sand and gravel Compact rocks like

Sandy clay is an
are some of the Clay is an example of basalt and granite are
example of
examples of an aquiclude some of the examples
aquitard
aquifer of Aquifuge