Application of VES and VLF-EM methods for groundwater exploration through overburden thickness estimation of aquiferous zones within Kabawa Area, Lokoja Kogi State, Nigeria
1 Department of Geology, Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria.
2 Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
3 Schlumberger Oilfield Services.
4 School of Material and Mineral Resources Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, Nibong Tebal, Pinang, Malaysia.
5 Department of Geology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
6 Department of Physics, Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria.
7 Department of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering. New Mexico State University, Las Cruces. USA.
Research Article
Global Journal of Engineering and Technology Advances, 2024, 20(02), 199–219.
Article DOI: 10.30574/gjeta.2024.20.2.0132
Publication history:
Received on 14 June 2024; revised on 21 August 2024; accepted on 23 August 2024
Abstract:
The area of study was surveyed to know more about the geology of the area which was characterized by Lokoja Formation, Patti Formation, and Agbaja Ironstone. The geoelectric and electromagnetic survey was carried out at Kabawa with the view to delineate the overburden thickness and aquiferous zone in the area. Geological field mapping were carried out which was accompanied with acquisition of sixteen (16) Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) data, and ten (10) Very Low Frequency Electromagnetic (VLF-EM) data. The major rocks encountered are sandstones, claystone, and siltstones. Further findings revealed that the VES result showed five (5) geo-electric layers in the area, these layers are the top soil having resistivity and thickness value ranges from 30.2-1194.9 Ωm and 0.3-4.0 m, highly ferruginous sandstone has resistivity and thickness value ranges from 3.6-39.5 Ωm and 1.2-8.3 m, dry sandstone has resistivity and thickness range of 4.4-1043.7 Ωm and 0.5-5.1 m, claystone has resistivity and thickness range of 2.1-1360 Ωm and 0.5-22.1 m, siltstone has resistivity and thickness ranges from 3.9-241.2 Ωm and 0.6-76.8 m, and the water-saturated sandstone has a resistivity ranging from 13.5-431.3 Ωm and an undefined thickness respectively. Generally, the VLF-EM result correlated with what was obtained from the VES data and further confirmed that the water-bearing strata (aquiferous zones) are in the overburden units. Therefore, the integration of geology, VES and VLF-EM techniques served as very important approaches for aquiferous zones delineation
Keywords:
Aquifer; Resistivity and thickness; Exploration; Water-saturated.
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