Mapping lateritic bauxite at Az Zabirah, Saudi Arabia, using ground-penetrating radar exploration method

Abstract

This paper presents the three-dimensional (3D) data interpretation of a ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey, in conjunction with the existing boreholes, covering the area of the Az Zabirah bauxite deposits, northern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The purpose of this study was to measure and map the volume of the bauxite deposits in the selected survey area, as well as to prove the success of the ground-penetrating radar exploration method in detecting and mapping the bauxite layer. The 3D GPR data interpretation detected the bauxite layer at different depths and of variable thickness. The interpretation of the GPR profiles show three distinct layers, namely sandstone, upper clay, and bauxite of variable thicknesses. Each zone has a different reflection pattern or radar facies, which aided in their differentiation. The calculated total volume of bauxite in the study area from the GPR survey and borehole data was 34,696 m3 and 34,101 m3, respectively. The minor difference in the calculated volumes between the two datasets was approximately 1%.