Question:medium

Groundwater contamination spreads faster in which of the following formations?

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Contaminant movement is fastest in \[ \boxed{ \text{Fractured rocks} \gt \text{Sand and gravel} \gt \text{Clay} } \]
Updated On: Jul 23, 2026
  • Clay aquifers
  • Fractured rocks
  • Shale formations
  • Peat soils
Show Solution

The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Think about how contaminants travel underground.
A pollutant moves through groundwater by following whatever open pathways the rock or soil offers.
Step 2: Compare the pathway types.
Fractured rocks are laced with interconnected cracks and joints that act like open highways for water and dissolved contaminants, while clay, shale, and peat have tiny, poorly connected pores that slow flow down a lot.
Step 3: Draw the conclusion.
Because fractures offer far less resistance to flow, contamination spreads noticeably faster through fractured rock than through those low-permeability formations.
\[ \boxed{\text{Fractured rocks}} \]
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