The Karst Aquifer has briefly explained in this presentation.

1. KARST AQUIFERS
PRESENETED BY AQIB ALI NAICH (16MN40)

2. AQUIFER
• An aquifer is an underground layer of water-
bearing permeable rock, rock fractures or
unconsolidated materials (gravel, sand,
or silt). Groundwater can be extracted using a water
well.

3. INTRODUCTION
• Karst is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble
rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is
characterized by underground drainage systems
with sinkholes and caves.
• Karst aquifer is limestone ( or any other easily dissolved
rock) that has been partly dissolved so that some fractures
are enlarged into passages (called conduits) that carry the
ground water flow.
• A type of land formation, usually with many caves formed
through the dissolving of limestone by underground
drainage.

4. INTRODUCTION
Underground river cave

5. CHEMISTRY
• The development of karst occurs whenever acidic water
starts to break down the surface of bedrock near its cracks,
or bedding planes.
• As time goes on, these fractures will become wider, and
eventually a drainage system of some sort may start to
form underneath.
• The primary reaction sequence in limestone dissolution is
the following:
H2O + CO2 → H2CO3
CaCO3 + H2CO3 → Ca2+ +
2 HCO−
3

6. HYDROLOGY
• Farming in karst areas must take into account the lack
of surface water.
• The soils may be fertile enough, and rainfall may be
adequate, but rainwater quickly moves through the
crevices into the ground.

7. HOW KARST AQUIFER IS POLLUTED ?
• Karst aquifers are susceptible to pollution because runoff can
enter conduits through sinkholes without being filtered
through sand, gravel or even soil.
• To keep ground water safer to use, pollution must be kept
out of karst aquifer.
• Personal responsibility of all citizens living in karst areas,
especially handling or disposing of potential pollutants, is the
best remedy