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ScienceGroundwater is the water that soaks into the ground from rain and can be stored beneath the ground. An aquifer is a body of rock and/or sediment that holds groundwater. There are two main types of aquifer in Ireland – bedrock aquifers, and sand and gravel aquifers. Bedrock is...
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There are more than 1,200 geological formations and members (rock units) in the 1:100,000 Bedrock Geology map. Rock properties such as colour, grain size and type, origin, fossil and mineral content are used to define formations and members. A lot of these properties are not...
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Karst is a type of landscape where the bedrock has dissolved and created features such as caves, enclosed depressions (sinkholes), disappearing streams, springs and turloughs (seasonal lakes). Limestone is the most common type of soluble rock. As rain falls it picks up carbon...
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ScienceGroup Water Schemes (GWSs) are community-run water supply schemes. About 70% of GWSs take their water from a privately-sourced supply. The rest take their water from an Irish Water connection (DHPLG, 2017). 81% of the privately-sourced supplies affiliated to the National...
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Public Water Supplies (PWSs) are managed by Irish Water, Ireland's national water utility, since 2013. Before this, public water supplies were managed by Local Authorities. More than 70% of public supplies take groundwater from boreholes, springs and infiltration galleries....
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The Groundwater Vulnerability map shows land areas across Ireland where groundwater can be easily polluted. It also shows areas where it is well protected by the subsoil layers. The vulnerability category given to a site or an area is based on how easy it is for water which...
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A well is a hole dug into the ground usually for the purpose of taking water from the ground but also for monitoring groundwater. Most private wells are used for home and farm water supplies are in rural areas. Springs occur where groundwater comes out at the surface. A...
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Subsoil is the layer of soil under the topsoil and on top of the bedrock. The ease with which water can pass through the subsoil is known as the ‘permeability’. The subsoil permeability affects how easily rainwater can soak down into the ground and fill up the groundwater...
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ScienceGroundwater is the water that soaks into the ground from rain and can be stored beneath the ground. An aquifer is a body of rock and/or sediment that holds groundwater. There are two main types of aquifer in Ireland – bedrock aquifers, and sand and gravel aquifers. Bedrock is...
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This dataset is the GSI’s legacy borehole database, compiled over many years from many sources. This dataset is available while we make significant improvements to our borehole holdings.
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ScienceThese data show how different types of rocks resist the flow of electrical currents across Ireland. The rock types can then be mapped. The data were collected between 2005 and 2021. Several surveys were merged to create this dataset. (1) Tellus Northern Ireland 2005-2006 (2)...
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Before building new structures engineering companies carry out a site investigation to find out the quality of the ground (strength and depth of soil and to see if rock and or groundwater is present). These investigations involve digging holes such as trial pits and boreholes....
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These data show the magnetic field strength of different rock types across Ireland. The rock types can then be mapped. The data were collected between 2005 and 2021. Several surveys were merged to create this dataset. (1) Tellus Northern Ireland 2005-2006 (2) Cavan-Monaghan,...
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hese data show the intensity of gamma rays released by Uranium, Thorium and Potassium in different soils and rocks in Ireland. Different soils and rock types can then be mapped. The data were collected between 2005 and 2021. Several surveys were merged to create this dataset....
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In terms of time scale in geology, Quaternary is the present-day time and it began 2.6 million years ago. A lot of this time period relates to the Ice Age. Quaternary Geomorphology shows features left on the earth’s surface during this time. Glaciers and ice sheets, which are...
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The term Physiography can be described as a blending of “physical" and "geography". Physiographic Units show Ireland’s physical landscape divided into categories such as ‘Bedrock plain’ and ‘Flat to undulating sediments’. Areas are grouped based on bedrock geology (solid rock...
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The term Physiography can be described as a blending of “physical" and "geography". Physiographic Units show Ireland’s physical landscape divided into categories such as ‘Bedrock plain’ and ‘Flat to undulating sediments’. Areas are grouped based on bedrock geology (solid rock...