Horton, Windsor, Mabou Formations aquitard

Aquitard

Version	Metadata
	f64ad8c6-548f-4f2a-927d-a28f36a47c67

Project
Carboniferous Basin

Datasets

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Horton, Windsor, Mabou Formations aquitard unit description

Update:2014-02-03

Physiography
In ascending order, the rock formations include: basement complex and the three rock Groups (Horton, Windsor and Riversdale-Mabou). The Horton Group consists of a sequence of continental sedimentary and volcanic rocks, overlain by the marine limestone and evaporite strata of the Windsor Group. A thick unit of sandstone and conglomerate (siltstone and mudstone) corresponding to the Riversdale-Mabou, overlies the Windsor Group. These three rock groups have medium hydraulic conductivity. Commonly characterized as weak, the aquifer potentials vary from bad to variable. Riversdale group and the upper part of Windsor group are aquitards. Riversdale-Mabou rocks are covered by a till unit, extending over the entire area. The till also has a weak aquifer potential. Considering the till general characteristics, the hydrogeological unit is under semi confined conditions. It has a moderate vulnerability to contaminations. Confined and unconfined conditions can also be present locally, depending on the till composition and thickness. Horton and Windsor groups have poor water quality, showing problems with chlore, fluoride, manganese, sodium, sulfate, nitrate, arsenic, barium, hardness, pH alkalin and total dissolved solids.
Hydrogeological region	Maritime Bassin
Hydrogeological context
Relief	Commonly, this hydrogeological unit has altitudes of 50-100 m. In the Caledonian Mountains, the elevation is higher than 400 m. The lowest elevations (0-50 m) are found along streams. The terrain is rugged. Kingston Uplift and Caledonian Mountains have slopes greater than 30%.
Area	1524.00 km2
Lithology
Description	From the base upward, the geological groups are basement complex, Horton, Windsor and Mabou Groups. The Horton Group consists of a sequence of continental sedimentary and volcanic rocks, overlain by the marine limestone and evaporite strata of the Windsor Group. A thick unit of sandstone and conglomerate (siltstone and mudstone) corresponds to the Riversdale-Mabou, overlies the Windsor Group. These rock groups are covered by a till unit which extends over the entire area. Some small colluvium deposits and rock outcrops may be observed. The Petitcodiac River banks show glaciofluvial outwash delta.
Source
Aquifer
Aquifers	List of aquifers none

Unit properties

Bedrock aquifer media


Typical value:	porous - fractured
Description	Groundwater circulates within the bedrock through fractures and interconnected pore spaces between the individual grains. Since fractures have a much higher permeability than the matrix around them, groundwater flows predominantly through fractures.
Source	Hydrogeological Atlas of South-Central Area of the Maritimes Carboniferous Basin

Confinement

Typical value:	semi confined
Description	The system can be considered semi-confined, but confined and unconfined conditions can be found, mainly depending on the till layer composition.
Source	Hydrogeological Atlas of South-Central Area of the Maritimes Carboniferous Basin

Surficial sediment thickness
8 m
Description	In New Brunswick, the till thickness varies between 0-20 m. The average thickness is 8 m for New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Source	Hydrogeological Atlas of South-Central Area of the Maritimes Carboniferous Basin

Well depth
35.1 m Range: [0 to 214] m
Source	Hydrogeological Atlas of South-Central Area of the Maritimes Carboniferous Basin

Groundwater depth
4.75 m Range: [0 to 48.8] m
Source	Hydrogeological Atlas of South-Central Area of the Maritimes Carboniferous Basin

Bedrock hydraulic conductivity
Range: [1e-06 to 5e-05] m/s
Description	For the 3 groups, the hydraulic conductivity is above 1E-6 m/s and below 5E-5 m/s
Source	Hydrogeological Atlas of South-Central Area of the Maritimes Carboniferous Basin

Regional precipitation
1099 mm/y Range: [947 to 1377] mm/y
Source	Hydrogeological Atlas of South-Central Area of the Maritimes Carboniferous Basin

Regional evapotranspiration
Range: [345 to 440] mm/y
Source	Hydrogeological Atlas of South-Central Area of the Maritimes Carboniferous Basin

Regional recharge
51 mm/y
Source	Hydrogeological Atlas of South-Central Area of the Maritimes Carboniferous Basin

Hydrogeological unit potential

Typical value:	Poor aquifer or aquitard
Description	Aquifer potential Mabou: poor or bad (aquitard) Windsor: variable to bad Horton: poor The Horton and Mabou groups form the main aquitards units of the area.
Source	Hydrogeological Atlas of South-Central Area of the Maritimes Carboniferous Basin

Aquifer vulnerability

Typical value:	Moderate
Source	Hydrogeological Atlas of South-Central Area of the Maritimes Carboniferous Basin

Groundwater Quality

Description	Horton and Windsor groups have poor water quality, showing problems with chlore, fluoride, manganese, sodium, sulfate, nitrate, arsenic, barium, hardness, pH alkalin and total dissolved solids.
Source	Hydrogeological Atlas of South-Central Area of the Maritimes Carboniferous Basin