Main Article Content

Delineation of Groundwater Aquifer and Subsurface Structures of Some Selected Areas in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria using Electrical Resistivity


Adeka Patience
Cyril G Afuwai
Matoh D. Dogara
Garba M. Ephraim
Magaji Simon
Ezra Dauda

Abstract

This study is aimed at delineating groundwater aquifer and subsurface structures of some selected areas within Chikun local government  area of Kaduna State, Nigeria, using the Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) method. To obtain the electrical resistivity values  of the subsurface within the study area, electric current was conducted into the ground through two current electrodes while measuring  the corresponding values of the potential difference using two potential electrodes. VES was conducted in twenty (20) different stations  and was named profiles A, B, C and D with each having five stations with several layers, and four Vertical Electrical Sounding curves which  were A, H, Q and QH were obtained. The results obtained from Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) revealed the aquifer was at  depths 7.3 m, 0.141 m 22.7 m, and 14 m for VES A, B, C and D respectively. Results from the 2D map revealed low resistivity within the  weathered basement and fracture basement with resistivity values ranging between 1.929 – 885 Ωm which correlates with the results  obtained from the VES. The reflection coefficient (r) was used to determine the aquifer protective capacity of the study area and the  isoresistvity map depicted that 7% was good (with r values ranging between 0.8 – 4.9), 43% was moderate (with r values ranging between  0.2 - 0.79), 33% was weak (with r values ranging between 0.10 - 0.19) and 17% was poor (with r values <0.10). Aquifer with low reflection  coefficient values (r<0.8) favors groundwater potentiality but with high vulnerability to contamination. The study area has an aquiferous  zone characterized by fractures and porosity aiding groundwater permeability and storage.  


Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 2756-3898
print ISSN: 2714-500X