Abstract
An electrical resistivity investigation was carried to investigate the bedrock geometry of the northern part of Kujama Prisons Farm Kaduna using the Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) method. The study is aimed at obtaining information on the subsurface layering for future civil engineering works. The area covered was 200,000 sqm having five (5) profiles with six (6) geophysical investigative points on each profile and separated 100 m apart. Ohm-Mega resistivity meter was used for the Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) and Thirty (30) points were established. To interpret the VES data, Res 1D iterative software, surfer 11 and Oasis Montaj software were used and it revealed three to five subsurface layers having Topsoil thickness between 0.3 - 2 m and resistivity between 104 - 4824 Ωm also, the last layer considered as the weathered/fractured/fresh basement has an infinite thickness with resistivity ranging from 45 - 10173 Ωm and the average overburden thickness of the area found to be 17.8 m. The VES found fresh basement at points A3(6151 ΩM), A6(5089 ΩM), B3(1067 ΩM), E5(10173 ΩM) and E6(1100 ΩM). From the study it is suggestive that the bedrock geometry has been irregularly configured over geological times due to effects of intense weathering. Therefore, the investigation revealed the study area may be considered for civil works of low bearing capacity.
Highlights
Geophysics is playing a very significant role as it provides an efficient and cost-effective means of collecting geologic information
In some parts of the area, there exist some outcrops of hard resistant granite rocks which are basically the Geophysical investigation involving the Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) was conducted along profiles established at the northern sector of the Kujama prison Farm
Just like any other geophysical method, the interpretation obtained from the results of Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) data involves the expression of acquired field data into geological terms and when the results of the field data are interpreted, information such as depth, resistivity and the thickness of the subsurface geometry can be obtained
Summary
Geophysics is playing a very significant role as it provides an efficient and cost-effective means of collecting geologic information. DC resistivity and Electrical resistivity tomography methods are among the most commonly employed geophysical techniques in near surface exploration for natural resources, geotechnical evaluation and environmental assessment [4]. The DC resistivity method has wide variety of applications with the objective to determine the physical parameters of a rock formation and map geologic structures in mineral and groundwater exploration and investigate the subsurface [3,7]. Geophysical investigation involving the Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) was conducted along profiles established at the northern sector of the Kujama prison Farm. The magnitude of the potential difference developed was a measure of the electrical resistance of the ground between the potential electrodes. This resistance is in turn a function of the geometrical configuration of the electrodes and the electrical parameters of the ground [9]
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