Aquifer Properties

Geology

The Arbuckle area of the Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer is mainly composed of limestones and dolomites, while the Simpson area is composed of limestone, shale, and sandstone (Rahi, 2010). A model of the geological makeup of the aquifer can be found in Figure 10. These rocks are extremely fractured and allow the aquifer to hold more water. The chemical composition of the rocks is made up primarily of calcium and carbonate, resulting in the water having a natural chemical composition made up of the same elements (Christenson, S., Hunt, A.G., and Parkhurst, D.L., 2009).

Hydrologic Properties

Research conducted on the aquifer has demonstrated the aquifer has a high hydraulic conductivity, high permeability, and high porosity. (Puckette, J., Halihan, T., and Faith, J., 2009). As most areas of the aquifer are confined, the few areas that are not conclude that the Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer is a leaky-confined aquifer. Thickness ranges between 1,000 feet to 2,300 feet (OWRB, Groundwater Studies, 2019). Estimates for the hydraulic conductivity, storage coefficient, transmissivity, and specific yield can be found in Figure 11.