Geophysical Investigations and Remote Sensing Techniques for Groundwater Exploration in Wadi Almilk Area, North Kordofan State, Sudan
[1]
Khalid A. Elsayed Zeinelabdein, Department of Geology, Al Neelain University, Khartoum, Sudan.
[2]
Abdalla E. M. Elsheikh, Department of Hydrogeology, Al Neelain University, Khartoum, Sudan.
North Kordofan State represents the world’s main supplier of Gum Arabic in addition to considerable amount of livestock. Nevertheless, the area suffers from acute shortages of fresh water supply for both human and animal consumption. The overall objective of the present study is the investigation of groundwater occurrence through an integrated methodology incorporating remote sensing, lineament mapping, structural analysis and geophysical studies via electrical resistivity methods. The study area is located in semi-arid zone with annual average rainfalls range between 150 to 250 mm. Topographically, the area is flat with slight slope to the northeast. Wadi Almilk and its tributaries represent the main source of groundwater recharge in addition to the direct precipitations. The alluvial, fractured and weathered basement are the main yielding groundwater source. The area is a part of a basement terrain, where the structural setting represents the main controlling factor of the aquifers distribution. The relatively low resistivity values were interpreted as conductive zone within the hard rock terrains. The relatively higher resistivity values were attributed to the hard basement rocks. The conductive zones show resistivity values range between 40 to 100Ωm, which may represent the weathered or saturated fractured zones within the basement rocks. The relatively higher resistivity values of 200 Ωm and more, represent the compact hard rocks. The lower resistivity values 30 Ωm or less may represent the weathering products of schistose rocks that distorted to clayey materials. Analysis of the lateral profiling data allowed the determination of the best points to be measured utilizing Vertical Electrical Sounding technique. The subsequent VES data analysis enabled the determination of the most potential points among the measured VESs. The electrical resistivity curves reflected different resistivity curve types such as the Q-type; the H-type and the KH-type. These types are attributed to the existence of the alluvial, weathered basement, fractured basement and hard basement rocks. Based on the current investigations, 14 out of 30 measured points are considered as potential sites concerning the groundwater occurrence.
Geophysical Investigations, Remote Sensing, Fractured Basement, Wadi Almilk, North Kordofan, Sudan
[1]
Elsayed Zeinelabdein, K.A., Elsheikh, A.E.M. and Abdalla, N.H. 2012. Assessment of groundwater potentiality of northwest Butana Area, Central Sudan. Nile Water Science and Engineering Journal, vol. 5 issue 2, pp. 49-57.
[2]
Elsheikh, A.E., El Khidir, S.O.H., Elsayed Zeinelabdein, K.A., Gachet, A. 2013. The application of remote sensing and structural analysis in groundwater exploration in basement terrains, Darfur Region, western Sudan. Arabian Journal of Geosciences. Vol. 6, Issue 6, pp 2061-2070. DOI: 10.1007/s12517-011-0468-3.
[3]
Elsheikh, A.E.M., Nayl, K.E.A., Elsayed Zeinelabdein, K.A. and Babikir, I.A.A. 2014. Groundwater potentialities assessment of the River Atbara alluvial sediments El Girba-New Halfa area, eastern Sudan. American Journal of Science and Technology, 1(4): 187-193.
[4]
Elsayed Zeinelabdein, K.A., Elsheikh, A.E.M. and Bireir, F.A. 2014. Hydro-geophysical study in Al-Khogalab basement-sedimentary basin transition area using Vertical Electrical Sounding method, Khartoum State, Central Sudan. Open Transactions on Geosciences, Vol. 1, No. 2. pp. 1-10, DOI: 10.15764/GEOS.2014.02001.
[5]
[5] Greenwood, W.R., Hadley, D.G., Anderson, R.E., Fleck, R.J. and Schmidt, D.L., 1976. Late Proterozoic cratonization in southwestern Saudi Arabia. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. A, 280, 517-527.
[6]
Abdelrahman, E.M., 1993. Geochemical and geotectonic controls of the metallugenetic evolution of selected ophiolite complexes from the Sudan. Berl. Geowiss. Abh. A 145, 175.
[7]
Geological Research Authority of Sudan, 1982. Geological map of Sudan, 1: 2,000,000.
[8]
Abdelrahman, E.M., Harms, U., Schandelmeier, H., Franz, G., Darbyshire, D.P.F., Horn, P. and Miller, Sohnius, D., 1990. A new ophiolite occurrence in NW Sudan -constraints on Late Proterozoic tectonism. Terra Nova, 2,363-376.
[9]
Abdelsalam, M.G. and Dawoud, A.S., 1991. The Kabus ophiolitic mélange, Sudan, and its bearing on the western boundary of the Nubian Shield. Journal of the Geological Society, London, 148, 83-92.
[10]
Müller S.D. and Horn, P., 1994. K-Ar dating of ring complexes and fault systems in Northern Kordofan, Sudan: evidence for independent magmatic and tectonic activity. Geol. Rundsch, 83: 604-613.
[11]
Vail, J.R., 1976. Outline of the geochronology and tectonic units of the basement complex of north-east Africa. Proc. R. Soc. London, A350, 127-141.
[12]
Vail, J.R., 1978. Outline of the geology and mineral deposits of the Democratic Republic of the Sudan and adjacent areas. Overseas Geol. and Miner. Resour. No. 49. 67 pp.
[13]
Park, R.G. 1997. Foundation of structural geology, 3rd ed. Chapman & Hal. Pp. 202.
