Which can be excluded from the list of underground materials that holds water in the Ogallala aquifer?
A: silt
B: gravel
C: sand
D: mineral
D: mineral
The material that can be excluded from the list of underground materials that holds water in the Ogallala aquifer is D: mineral.
To determine which material can be excluded from the list of underground materials that hold water in the Ogallala aquifer, it is essential to understand the properties of each material and its ability to retain water.
One way to examine this is by considering the porosity and permeability of each material. Porosity refers to the amount of empty space or voids within the material, while permeability relates to how easily water can flow through it.
Silt: Silt is a fine-grained sedimentary material, finer than sand but coarser than clay. It has some porosity and can hold water, but its permeability is relatively low. Therefore, silt is a potential candidate for water retention in the Ogallala aquifer.
Gravel: Gravel consists of larger rock fragments and has high porosity due to the gaps between the rocks. However, its permeability is also high because water can flow between the gaps. Gravel is known to facilitate the movement of water and increase its storage capacity. Thus, gravel is a probable material for water storage in the Ogallala aquifer.
Sand: Sand is made up of larger particles than silt, offering higher porosity and better permeability. It can hold and transmit water quite effectively. Sand is considered an important component of the Ogallala aquifer as it contributes to the storage and movement of water within the aquifer.
Mineral: The term "mineral" is quite broad and encompasses a wide range of substances with varying properties. Some minerals, such as clay minerals, can hold water due to their fine particle size and high porosity. However, other minerals may not possess favorable water-holding characteristics. Without specifying the properties of the mineral in question, it is difficult to determine whether it can be excluded from the list.
In summary, neither silt, gravel, nor sand can be excluded from the list of materials that hold water in the Ogallala aquifer. The exclusion of a specific mineral would require further information regarding its properties and its ability to contribute to water retention in the aquifer.