Magnetic Applications to Subsurface and Groundwater Investigations: A Case Study from Wadi El Assiuti, Egypt

Ahmed Mohamed,Elsayed M Abu El Ella

doi:10.4236/ijg.2021.122006

Abstract

Wadi El Assiuti represents a promising area for agricultural development and building new communities far from the overpopulated areas in the Nile Val-ley. An integrated approach of satellite-based data and geophysical data with borehole data was used for defining the area of interest, the sediment thick-ness, delineating the subsurface structures, and mapping the depth to the basement rocks, and defining the groundwater aquifers. Findings are: 1) Dramatic changes are detected in the anthropogenic activities at the entrance area of the wadi, making stress and heavy exploitation of the groundwater resources. However, the central and northeastern regions show no development; 2) Several structural trends in the directions of NNW, NW, NE, and E-W are cutting the basement rocks and sedimentary cover; 3) The depth to the basement rocks is increasing eastward from ~2.24 km to ~4.84 km; 4) Three groundwater-bearing reservoirs are represented by the shallow Qua-ternary, the fractured limestone, and the deep Nubian sandstone aquifers; 5) The deep-seated faults are affecting the area and rising groundwater from the deeper Nubian aquifer along its sub-vertical trend; and 6) The results are in-formative and used to define the suitable sites for water well drilling.

Highlights

Wadi El Assiuti is one of the most important wadis in middle Egypt, with a dry drainage basin, whose main stream reaches ~186 km in length [1]
An integrated approach of satellite-based data and geophysical data with borehole data was used for defining the area of interest, the sediment thickness, delineating the subsurface structures, and mapping the depth to the basement rocks, and defining the groundwater aquifers
The central and northeastern regions show no development; 2) Several structural trends in the directions of NNW, NW, NE, and E-W are cutting the basement rocks and sedimentary cover; 3) The depth to the basement rocks is increasing eastward from ~2.24 km to ~4.84 km; 4) Three groundwater-bearing reservoirs are represented by the shallow Quaternary, the fractured limestone, and the deep Nubian sandstone aquifers; 5) The deep-seated faults are affecting the area and rising groundwater from the deeper Nubian aquifer along its sub-vertical trend; and 6) The results are informative and used to define the suitable sites for water well drilling

Summary

Introduction

Wadi El Assiuti is one of the most important wadis in middle Egypt, with a dry drainage basin, whose main stream reaches ~186 km in length [1]. M. Abu El Ella basin (Figure 1) is located directly east of the Nile River between longitudes ̊12'E and ̊30'E, and latitudes 27 ̊00'N and 27 ̊48'N. Abu El Ella basin (Figure 1) is located directly east of the Nile River between longitudes ̊12'E and ̊30'E, and latitudes 27 ̊00'N and 27 ̊48'N It is a natural extension of Assiut Governorate in the Eastern Desert due to its groundwater potentialities and uncultivated soils. Wadi El Assiuti (Figure 1) is a desert area, except for some parts of urbanization, and very small agricultural parts, which are located close to the entrance of the wadi. The increase of land reclamations for different agricultural activities and vast growth of new settlements (e.g. new Assiut city) in Assiut governorate has led to a search for new groundwater resources, necessary for sustainable development of the agricultural expansion

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion