Geophysical and Physicochemical Characteristics of Aquifer Systems in Benin Hydrogeological Province of Umuahia Area, Southern Nigeria
[1]
M. U. Igboekwe, , Department of Physics (Geophysics), Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria.
[2]
C. Amos-Uhegbu , Department of Physics (Geophysics), Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria.
The study is a review on the geoelectrical characteristics and physicochemical parameters of the aquifer systems in Benin Hydrogeological Province of Umuahia Area, Southern Nigeria. The aim was to collate, synthesize and analyse geoelectrical and physicochemical parameters from available literature in order to evaluate the geophysical and geochemical character of the aquifer systems. The study shows that the hydrogeologic system of the area is a multi-aquifer system ranging from two to three aquifers. Aquifer thickness varies from 24.5m to about 295m; The depth to the first aquifer falls between 30.50 - 60.96 meters, the second between 65.54 - 91m and the third aquifer is from about 91.95metres. Using the Piper Diagram in the hydrogeochemical investigation, two major groundwater types exist in the area with Calcium+Magnesium chloride bicarbonate [(Ca+Mg)-HCO3-Cl] dominating in the eastern part while Sodium+Potassium chloride bicarbonate [(Na+K)-HCO3-Cl] dominates in the western part; this coincided with the local water divide. The Formation Factor ranges from 2.02 to 13.53. With reference to the local water divide, the major geologic controls on the groundwater chemistry is chloride dissolution, silicate weathering, carbonate weathering and reverse ion exchange. It was concluded that the area has huge groundwater.
Benin Hydrogeological Province, Aquifer Characteristics, Geo-Physical and Geo-Chemical Characteristics, Formation Factor, Hydrogeochemical Facies
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