Hydrogeological conditions and characteristics of water-rich sections in the eastern Laiwu basin, Shandong Province

Based on an 1∶50,000 hydrogeological survey, this work details the hydrogeological conditions of the eastern Laiwu basin, Shandong Province. The groundwater in this area is divided into four types, pore water in loose rocks, karsticfissure water in carbonate rocks, fissure-pore water in clastic rocks and fissure water in magmatic and metamorphic rocks. Then this paper summarizes their water abundance, and analyzes the characteristics of groundwater recharge, runoff, discharge and dynamic change, the characteristics of karst development in the area. It is found that the karst is concentrated above the depth of 200 m in the subsurface, dominated by dissolution cracks and honeycomb karst holes. The water-controlling structures include the Qingnigou fault, Xinglongshan-Gaoyupu fault and Tongyedian-Sunzu fault. Three karst water-rich sections are suggested, i.e. Dongquan, Qingnigou and Zhangbaqiu, each has distinct water-rich mechanism and permissive mining yield. These results provide a reference for reasonable exploitation of groundwater in this area.