Evaluation of groundwater potential of bedrock aquifers in Geological Sheet 223 Ilorin, Nigeria, using geo-electric sounding

Abstract

Electrical resistivity data acquired in one hundred and ten (110) locations using vertical electrical sounding method of Schlumberger array have been used to study the hydrogeological properties and groundwater storage potential of bedrock aquifers in an area covered by Geological Sheet 223 Ilorin, Nigeria. The aim of the study was to identify productive aquifer zones for citing boreholes for community water supply. The data acquired were processed and interpreted using auxiliary curve matching and computer automation method to delineate the different geo-electric layers, their resistivities, thicknesses, and depths. Geo-electrical layers were interpreted to their equivalent geological layers using borehole lithological logs from the study area. Then, the hydraulic conductivity, transmissivity, fracture contrast, reflection coefficient were estimated and plotted in the form of 2D maps to describe the spatial variations of these parameters in the area. The results of the study revealed the presence of three to five geo-electric layers. The geo-electric layers, from top to the bottom, corresponds to the topsoil layer, lateritic layer, weathered rock layer, fractured rock layer, and the fresh basement rock. Lateritic and/or fractured rock layers were not delineated in some places. The weathered and fractured rock layers, where present, correspond to the aquifer units. The thickness of the fracture aquifer ranges from 0.6 to 33.6 m while the thickness of the weathered aquifer ranges from 1.4 to 49.3 m. The transmissivity, T, and hydraulic conductivity, K, range from 3 to 1200 m2/day and 1 to 48 m/day, respectively. The reflection coefficient and fracture contrast map showed the presence of water-bearing fractures and shared some similarities with T and K maps. A mathematical model for predicting groundwater potential, GW P, of weathered aquifer in the basement complex terrain was proposed in this study. The consistencies between the overall groundwater potential map and aquifers parameters distributions maps suggest the appropriateness of the proposed mathematical model for predicting groundwater potential of weathered rock in the basement complex area of Nigeria. The western, northwestern, and central parts of the study area, having GW P greater than 0.6 (60%), were recommended for groundwater development through boreholes drilled to a depth ranging between 75 and 100 m.