For water to pass through granite, several things need to happen:
* Fracturing: Granite needs to develop cracks or fractures. This can happen due to:
* Weathering: The constant expansion and contraction of granite due to temperature changes can cause it to crack.
* Erosion: Wind, rain, and ice can slowly wear away at granite, creating fractures.
* Tectonic activity: Earthquakes and other tectonic forces can create large cracks and fissures in granite.
* Dissolution: Some minerals in granite, like feldspar, can be dissolved by slightly acidic rainwater. This can widen existing fractures and create new pathways for water to flow through.
* Presence of other materials: Fractures and other spaces in granite can be filled with other materials like soil, sand, or clay. These materials can act as pathways for water to flow through, even if the granite itself is still impermeable.
Essentially, granite needs to be broken down or altered to create spaces for water to flow through.
