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Geophysical Investigations and Remote Sensing Techniques for Groundwater Exploration in Wadi Almilk Area, North Kordofan State, Sudan
Current Issue
Volume 2, 2015
Issue 2 (March)
Pages: 15-21   |   Vol. 2, No. 2, March 2015   |   Follow on         
Paper in PDF Downloads: 29   Since Aug. 28, 2015 Views: 1916   Since Aug. 28, 2015
Authors
[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.
Abstract
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.
Keywords
Geophysical Investigations, Remote Sensing, Fractured Basement, Wadi Almilk, North Kordofan, Sudan
Reference
[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.
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