The Application of Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) for Groundwater Exploration in Tudun Wada Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

A new simple and quick geophysical method for groundwater exploration in the crystalline rocks of Tudun Wada Kano State, Nigeria has been developed. A geophysical evaluation using Electrical Resistivity method for groundwater exploration at the study area was carried out which involved the utilization of Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) technique with schlumberger array system. The study area is located within the sedimentary rocks, igneous, and metamorphic with alluvial as common types of rocks. The data acquired from six (6) VES stations using ABEM terrameter (SAS 300) was tabulated in a table which shows the resistivity, the thicknesses and the number of layers for each VES station. The data was analyzed using computer software called IPI2win, which yield an automatic interpretation of the apparent resistivity. The VES results revealed heterogeneous nature of the subsurface geological sequence. The geological profile sequence in the study area include the topsoil, weathered layer, fractured basement and fresh basement. The value for topsoil ranges from 16 Ωm to 550 Ωm with thickness varies from 1.45 m to 6.05 m. The weathered layer resistivity ranges from 14 Ωm to 541 Ωm and thickness of 5.70 m to 33.00 m. The fractured basement ranges in value from 189 Ωm to 785 Ωm with thickness ranges from 11 m to 20 m. The fresh or bedrock basement has a resistivity of 1011 Ωm to 3006 Ωm which move down infinitely. Therefore the depth of the bedrock from the topsoil or earth’s surface ranges from 2 m to 45 m.