Delineation of groundwater potential zones in northern Omdurman area using electrical resistivity method

Abstract

This study is conducted in the northern Omdurman area to delineate groundwater potential zones using electrical resistivity method. Omdurman is the most ancient city known as the historical capital of Sudan. Geoelectric survey employing vertical electrical sounding (VES) technique is carried out to explore the availability of groundwater in the study area. The measurements were conducted using Schlumberger configuration. In this study, twelve VES points are measured along four profiles. The measured data is processed and interpreted using 1D geophysical inversion technique constrained by lithological data obtained from two boreholes. The integration of electrical and geological data led to a reliable interpretation of the geophysical model. The obtained results revealed that the geological succession of the study area is mainly composed of five layers of recent deposits, clay, sandy clay, silicified and ferruginous sandstone, and sandstone. According to the resulting hydrogeological sections, the water-bearing formation is composed mainly of coarse sandstone and varies in thickness under confined conditions. The geoelectrical sounding method successfully fulfilled the aims of the study. Nevertheless, detailed hydrogeological and geophysical investigations need to be carried out for a comprehensive characterization of the groundwater aquifer.