The delineation of groundwater and geotechnical parameters within Marmara area of Chikun local government of Kaduna state, Nigeria

Abstract

Geophysical investigation for engineering studies was carried out around Faith Academy, Marmara village, Kaduna within the basement complex of North-Western Nigeria. Six (6) Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) were established using Schlumberger configuration. The geoelectric section revealed five subsurface layers defined by the topsoil, which comprises humus, clay and laterite; followed by weathered layer which comprises of sandy soil, fractured layer which constitutes of coarse grain sands and gravels and fresh basement which is porphyritic granite. The resistivities and thicknesses of the topsoil range from 47 − 4212Ωm and 2 − 5m respectively. The weathered/fractured basement has average thickness of 42m with resistivity ranging from 350 − 774Ωm. The Areas found to meet the conditions of high basement resistivity and shallow depth to basement, are found to be at VES A1, A2, A3, A4 and A6. Hence, VES A1 have been found to be the competent zones within the study area, and are good for the construction of high-rise buildings, roads and bridges. VES A3, A4 and A6 are areas that do not meet the conditions for construction of a high-rise buildings. However, VES A3, A4 and A6 appears to be viable for groundwater exploration with aquifer thickness ranges between 18 − 42m and depth ranges of 6 − 10m, while the average depth to fresh basement is 43m.