A layer of rock or soil that absorbs water but does not transmit it easily, preventing the flow of groundwater.
From Latin 'aqua' (water) plus 'claudere' (to close/shut). The term was coined in the 20th century in hydrogeology to describe water-blocking geological formations.
Aquicludes are nature's water barriers—clay layers act as aquicludes, which is why wells sometimes hit layers where water stops flowing, and why engineers drilling for water have to understand geology like plumbers understand pipes.
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