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v0.31:Aquifer
| This article is about an older version of DF. |
An aquifer is a subterranean layer of Template:L-bearing rock or Template:L. Attempts to mine through them will result in the mined-out squares immediately filling with Template:L, effectively halting excavation at or below their level. This, in conjunction with the fact that they are often located in areas rich in Template:L, and Template:L, makes it difficult to find great quantities of Template:L in areas with aquifers, making for more challenging gameplay.
Dealing with aquifers
The ore method
On maps where the aquifer is not held in a layer of soil, but instead is held in a Template:L such as sandstone, it may be possible to tunnel down through deposits of ore such as magnetite. For this to work you have to find a spot where there is coincidentally an ore deposit on each Z-level you need to dig through. This is only possible through tiresome trial and error, or through the use of a utility like reveal.exe.
The magma/obsidian method
If you have access to a supply of magma, you can create your own obsidian caissons. By channeling into the aquifer layer and then filling these channels with magma, it is possible to create a wall of obsidian between your working area and the Template:L-bearing rock or Template:L. However, changes to world generation with the last version have made this method more difficult than it once was, as it is now harder to find magma vents that extend above the aquifer level.
The cave-in method
If there are enough layers above the aquifer, then letting non aquifer rock fall into the aquifer layer gives an area of dig-able rock. This requires at least 2 natural dry layers. If multiple aquifer layers are to be breached, things get more complicated. First Template:L out the area of aquifer that will be replaced. Then dig out all connecting floors and walls to the block that will fall (build a support to hold it until you are ready for collision). A Template:L may be useful to assign unnecessary dwarves to a safe area. When everyone is clear, de-construct the support with a lever. (If you forgot to bring stone, then you may instead build a constructed floor to support it, designate it to be destroyed, and have a Template:L standing ready in case the unlucky one survives.)
After the collapse, do not dig out the outer edge of the fallen rock.
Note:There is a bug that may prevent this method from working, collapsed layers may turn into the aquifer layer type that the layer lands on.
The freezing method
If you are playing in a freezing or very cold landscape, basically, where it snows in winter and instantly freezes water, you can dig out a 3x3 hole in the ground using channels, and make it deeper and deeper until you reach the aquifer level. Once you reach the damp rock, tunnel into it with an up/down staircase - the incoming water will freeze after a few moments. The central square of the 3x3 hole should be tunnelable ice, so you can get to the rock beneath. If there are two aquifer levels, for example, you can just make a larger initial hole, and make a smaller one for the level after.
If your fortress is in a zone that gets warm, build walls around the inside of the hole to stop the water coming in once the ice melts.
The pump method
The pumping method uses multiple pumps to keep an area dry long enough to smooth or Template:L off the edges, stopping the flow of water. It requires no special environment or resources, other than wood and dwarves (and patience). Most commonly, a moderately sized section of the aquifer layer is channeled out and several screw pumps are built facing it. Directly behind each of the screw pumps a few tiles are channeled out to receive and dispose of the pumped water. When the pumps are activated, they should pump water faster than the aquifer can produce it, allowing masons to smooth or build walls around your future staircase. You WILL get job cancellations during this process, as stray 2/7's of water interrupt the building process. Just unsuspend construction when this happens, as long a dwarf manages to touch the wall before canceling, it will move incrementally toward completion and eventually finish. Depending on the availability of screw pumps and dwarves, you may need to wall off one corner or side at a time, then move the pumps and repeat. When drilling through more than one aquifer layer, be sure to leave yourself enough room to build additional layers of pumps and water disposal channels on lower levels.
Things to consider:
- flowing water will cause parents to drop their infants, leading to job cancellations and occasionally hilarity tragedy.
- mechanical Template:L may come in handy, but dwarf power works just fine and is much more easily portable.
- channels can sometimes be used in place of walls, causing water produced by by the aquifer on one level to immediately fall and be consumed by the aquifer on the level below
- yes, this method may take a while.
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