Author(s)

Abdulaziz M. Abdulaziz^1*, Abdalla M. Faid²

¹Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
²Water Resources Department, National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences, El-Nozha El-Gedida, Cairo, Egypt.

The study area is located in the western extension of the Nile Valley near the boundary with the Western Desert, where the groundwater represents the potential water resource for future land development for both industrial purposes and agricultural reclamation. Historically, geoelectric methods proved prospective and practical in exploring for groundwater resources. In this study, 17 Vertical Electric Sounding (VES) were acquired and processed to reveal the subsurface distribution of the water bearing layers and identify the groundwater potential in West Maghagha area. After routine data analysis and calibration, the preliminary results are interpreted in light of the available geological data and indicated the presence of at least four geoelectric layers with model resistivity values up to 2000 Ω•m. The potential aquifer was encountered down to ~120 m depth with average thickness of 100 m and is made of argillaceous fractured carbonates. Despite the overall poor quality of this aquifer, the integrated geoelectric and hydrogeologic information indicated a possible potential occurrence of potable groundwater at the southern and northeastern parts of the study area. To improve understanding of the groundwater systems in the study area, detailed aquifer characterization is discussed through integration of the available geologic data, maps, and the geoelectric sections constructed from the VES.

Maghagha, Vertical Electric Sounding, Schlumberger Configuration, Subsurface Characterization, Groundwater Systems

Abdulaziz, A. and Faid, A. (2017) Aquifer Characterization and Groundwater Potential Using Integrated Geoelectric Sounding and Geoinformatics in West Maghagha Area, Minia Governorate, Egypt. Open Journal of Geology, 7, 1625-1643. doi: 10.4236/ojg.2017.711109.