The use of electrical resistivity tomography to classify the Earth’s subsurface in Ugbogiobo Community, Edo State, South-South Nigeria

Abstract

Electrical Resistivity investigations using Two-dimensional (2-D) geophysical investigation was carried out in Ugbogiobo community, Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. This was done to have a good idea of subsurface lithology in the study area. Twenty-four (24) traverse lines were profiled in two locations using a rectangular grid format with electrode spacing of 10 m with a horizontal length of 300 m and 200 m respectively using the Wenner Alpha configuration as a survey technique. The 2-D Electrical Resistivity data was processed using RES2DINV software. From the results obtained it is evident that over a depth of between 5 m to 56 m for all the profiled lines there is composition of Alluvium and clayey soil at the top surface with low resistivity values at a depth below 10 m with resistivity values ranging between 50 Ωm–800 Ωm. While Shale, Slate and Sandstone occurred at a depth of between 13 m to 25 m with resistivity values ranging between 1000 Ωm–3000 Ωm. Above a depth of 30 m revealed limestone and thick clay with resistivity values raging between 5000 Ωm– 30000 Ωm.