Geoelectrical Survey for Groundwater Exploration at the Asyuit Governorate, Nile Valley, Egypt

Abstract

Asyuit area is considered as the most promising area for irrigated agriculture and development in both the Eastern Desert and the Western Desert. Groundwater is the most important resources necessary for such development. Forty-two vertical electrical soundings (VES.'s), using Schlumberger array were carried out in Asyuit area. The main goal of such survey was to elucidate hydrogeological information and to delineate subsurface structural elements. VES. curves were interpreted using a 2-D horizontal layering resistivity model assumption. The interpretation results showed that the geoelectrical succession consists of four layers. The top layer is formed of gravely sand with relatively high electrical resistivity values, the second layer is composed of sand (aquifer) with relatively intermediate electrical resistivity values, the third layer is made up of clay (aquiclude) with relatively low electrical resistivity values and the fourth layer consists of limestone with relatively high electrical resistivity values. As for groundwater potentiality, the second layer is highly promising to be the water-bearing layer. The maximum depth to water ranges between 9.9 to 522 m.