Geophysical investigation for sustainable development at Alamein Area, Northwestern Coast, Egypt

Abstract

Alamein City is one of the recently established cities along the Mediterranean coast in Egypt. Nineteen vertical electrical soundings (VES's) were measured in the study area with maximum current electrode separation of 600 m to examine the depth to water bearing layer, subsurface succession and structures controlling the distribution of the groundwater aquifer. The interpretation results of the VES data revealed that the subsurface section in the area is subdivided into three geoelectrical layers. The uppermost layer covers the ground surface and consists of alluvial deposits with moderately high electrical resistivity values (10.5–291 Ω.m.), with thicknesses ranging from 0.8 to 12.2 m. The second layer consists of Limestone (L. St.) intercalated with clay (water bearing layer) with low electrical resistivity values (0.2–10 Ω.m); with thicknesses ranging from 1.4 to 34 m. The third layer consists of saturated oolitic limestone with moderate electrical resistivity values (5.5–120 Ω.m). Gravity data were retrieved, corrected and analyzed. Gravity interpretation reveals that the depth of the basement rocks varies from 3600 to 6400 m with basement faults extending mainly in NW-SE direction, which is corresponding to the major trend in the Northern Western Desert.