Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Glossary
Abyss Sub-vertical cavity of extremely great depth
Active cave A cave containing a running stream
Anisotropy A variance of physical characteristics of mass depending on the direction of their measurement
Anomaly A deviation of the characteristics from the normally expected
Aquifer, karst An aquifer in which the water flow is appreciable trough joints, faults and cavities enlarged by
dissolution
Aquifer, confined An aquifer bounded above and below by confining rocks of distinctly lower permeability
than that of the aquifer itself
Aquiclude Porous rock formation capable of storing water without sufficient transmitting rates to furnish an
appreciable supply for spring
Aquifuge Porous rock formation without interconnected openings or interstices unable neither to store nor to
transmit water
Aquitard A confining bed retarding, but not preventing the water flow to or from an adjacent aquifer
Allochthon Rock formation originating from different locality than the one in which it has been deposed
Autochthon Rock formation originating and deposed at about the same location
Barrier A geological formation or structure having become impervious to ground water flow
Base of karstification Level below which karstification has not occured
Basin Hydrogeographic unit receiving water from precipitations and discharging it trough one or more springs
Brittle deformation A property of materials for sudden failure; complete loss of cohesion across one or more
planes
Catchment An area or a depression that collects and drains rainwater
Cave A single, different lengths accessible passage or an extensive complex network of underground galleries
Cavern An underground opening in soluble rocks
Cavern system An underground network of passages, chambers, galleries and other cavities with or without
underground river(s)
Conjugated joints Two sets of joints that are formed under the same stress conditions (during the same
deformational event) Synonym: Joint system
Crack A small fracture with respect to the scale of the volume in which it occurs
