Identifying flow regime in the aquifer of fractured rock system in Germi Chai Basin,Iran

Considering the importance of fractured rock aquifers in the hydrogeologic process,this research aimed to analyze the flow regime,internal degree of karstification,and estimate storage volume in fractured rock aquifers of the Germi Chai Basin in northwest Iran,which is attributed to its active tectonics,erosion,and the lithological diversity.Given the geological setting,the hypothesis is that this basin is characterized by a high degree of karstification and diffuse or intermediate flow regime leading to variation in discharge flow rate.The hydrodynamic and hadrochemical analysis was conducted on 9 well distributed springs across the basin from 2019 to 2020.The maximum flow rate in most of the springs appeared in the early wet season despite their different levels of fluctuations on the monthly discharge time series.Analyzing the spring recession curve form revealed an aquifer containing multiple micro-regimes withαrecession coefficients and a degree of karstification ranging between 0.001 to 0.06 and 0.55 to 2.61,respectively.These findings indicated a dominant diffuse and intermediate flow system resulting from the development of a high density of fractures in this area.The electrical conductivity of the spring changes inversely proportional to the change in flow discharge,indicating the reasonable hydrological response of the aquifer to rainfall events.Hydrograph analysis revealed that the delay time of spring discharge after rainfall events mostly varies between 10 to 30 days.The total dynamic storage volume of the spring for a given period(2019-2020)was estimated to be approximately 1324 million cubic meters reflecting the long-term drainage potential and high perdurability of dynamic storage.Estimating the maximum and minimum ratio revealed that the springs recharging system in Germi Chai Basin comes under the slow aquifers category.This finding provides valuable insight into the hydrogeological properties of fractured rock aquifers contributing to effective water management strategy.

Application of Spatial Techniques for the Identification of Discontinuous Aquifers of the Basement in Semi-Arid Environment: A Case of Bagzan Mount Plateau, Aïr Massif (North, Niger)

Bagzan mount is located in the Aïr massifs region. This locality, which is constituted only by the granites and volcanic formations, knows the difficulty of water supply that depends on rainfall. This present study has the objective of fracture mapping that allowed to the fractured aquifer in Bagzan mount. The methodological approach used has a treatment of Digital Elevation Model (DEM imagery), hydrogeological and geological approach in the field. This process allowed us to map the lineaments and elaborate a fracturing map after the validation stage. The fracturing map showed that the fractures network is distributed in the N70°-N80°, N60°-N70°, N50°-N60°, and two secondary directions N90°-N100° and N120°-N140°. These fracturing maps allowed us to have precious information in groundwater research in Bagzan mount, due to their geological and hydrogeological complexity.

Contribution of Geophysical Prospecting (1D) to Characterize a Precambrian Basement Aquifers Agadez Region (North, Niger)

In the A?r massif, and more particularly in the Iférouane area, the basement is flush. Thus, the essential of water resources is contained in the discontinuous aquifers of basement. Indeed, the weathered and cracked basement is an excellent reservoir of groundwater. The objective of this study is to determine the areas favorable to establishment of productive drilling in the village of Ebourkoum. A methodological approach based on the combination of remote sensing and geophysics methods was implemented. The fracturing map developed highlighted three main accidents of directions N0° - N10°, N30° - N50° and N130° - N140° in the said locality. The geophysical investigation mainly electrical prospecting has allowed to locate structures with high hydraulic potential below alluvium and alterites. Subsequently, drilling will be carried out in the areas retained.

Stress tensors and quantification of fracture patterns to analyze connectivity and potential fluid flow in a mesa landform of the Northern Andes

This work applies stress tensors inversions and quantification of fracture patterns along the Mesa de Los Santos, in the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia, to better understand the potential fluid flow. It thus contributes to the conceptual hydrogeological model. The area was subdivided into three blocks, separated by the NW Potreros and the Los Santos faults, having minor inner faults of different orientations. This separation facilitates the analysis of the fractures measured in the field, which in general show high dip angles and a conjugate geometry in the northern block, tension fractures(Mode I) in the central block, and a random distribution in the southwestern block. WinTensor treatment of slickensides yielded a maximum horizontal stress(SHmax) of 111o, which coincides with the WNW-ESE tensor observed from the conjugate and tension joints. We then used Frac Pa Q to generate interpolation maps of fracture intensity and density. The maps show the highest values in the central block and the lowest in the northern block,where the precipitation is higher, causing intensive rock weathering and homogenization of the fracture planes. Although the highest values of connectivity by line are found to the south of the mesa, we suggest the possibility of greater flow from the recharge zone(NE) along bedding planes and open NW-SE fractures.

Analytical and Numerical Modeling of Flow in a Fractured Gneiss Aquifer

Investigating and modeling fluid flow in fractured aquifers is a challenge. This study presents the results of a series of packer tests conducted in a fractured aquifer in Freiberg, Germany, where gneiss is the dominant rock type. Two methods were applied to acquire hydraulic properties from the packer tests: analytical and numerical modeling. MLU (Multi-Layer Unsteady state) for Windows is the analytical model that was applied. ANSYS-FLOTRAN was used to build a two-dimensional numerical model of the geometry of the layered aquifer. A reasonable match between experimental data and simulated data was achieved with the 2D numerical model while the solution from the analytical model revealed significant deviations with respect to direction.

Electrical Resistivity Contrasts and High Flow Rates Discontinuous Aquifers Identification in a Sheared Crystallophyllian Basement Zone at Boniérédougou (North-Central Côte d’Ivoire)

This study proposes an alternative approach to the investigation of high flow hydrogeological fractures within the basement in the Dabakala region of north-central Côte d’Ivoire. The used approach consists of exploring the subsurface by measuring electrical resistivity contrasts along the main shear direction within crystallophyllian rocks. Electrical resistivity profiling and vertical electrical sounding techniques, coupled with boreholes monitoring, have identified fractured aquifers whose best flow rates are around 96 and 116 m3/h. These aquifers mostly hosted in granodiorite have an average strength of 10 meters and are located at depth of around 100 meters. They are associated with open fractures created by tangential shear stresses that have affected the Dabakala volcano-sedimentary trench formations. The search for fractured aquifers along the main shear direction offers great perspective for obtaining high flow rates.

Groundwater Potential Mapping in Lapan Gwari Community Using Integrated Remote Sensing and Electrical Resistivity Soundings

This research aims to address the pressing issue of failed and abandoned wells, causing water scarcity in Lapan Gwari Community, through an improved groundwater exploration approach integrating remote sensing and electrical resistivity soundings. The study area, located within the Zungeru Sheet 163 SE, spans Latitudes 9°30'00"N to 9°32'00"N and Longitudes 6°28'00" to 6°30'00". The surface geologic, structural, and hydrogeological mapping provided essential insights into the hydrogeological framework. Leveraging SRTM DEM data, thematic maps were created for geomorphology, slope, land use, lineament density, and drainage density. These datasets were then integrated using ArcGIS to develop a preliminary groundwater potential zones map. Further investigations were conducted using Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) and Electrical Resistivity Imaging (2D VES) surveys at targeted locations identified by the preliminary map. Results show that the study area predominantly consists of crystalline rocks of the Nigerian Basement Complex, primarily comprising schist and granite with minor occurrences of quartz vein intrusions. Surface joint directions indicated a dominant NE-SW trend. The VES data revealed three to four geoelectric layers, encompassing the topsoil (1 to 5 m depth, resistivity: 100 Ωm to 300 Ωm), the weathered layer (in the 3-layer system) or fractured layer (in the 4-layer system), and the fresh basement rock characterized by infinite resistivity. The shallow weathered layers (3 to 30 m thickness) are believed to hold aquiferous potential. Hydrogeological interpretation, facilitated by 2D resistivity models, delineated water horizons trapped within clayey sand and weathered/fractured formations. Notably, the aquifer resistivity range was found to be between 3 - 35 m and 100 - 300 Ωm, signifying a promising aquifer positioned at depths of 40 to 88 m. This aligns with corroborative static water level measurements. Given this, we recommend drilling depths of a minimum of 80 m to ensure the acquisition of sufficient and sustainable water supplies. The final groundwater potential zones map derived from this study is expected to serve as an invaluable guide for prospective groundwater developers and relevant authorities in formulating effective water resource management plans. By effectively tackling water scarcity challenges in Lapan Gwari Community, this integrated approach demonstrates its potential for application in similar regions facing comparable hydrogeological concerns.

Natural and Anthropogenic Influence in Water Quality:The Case of Linares City,NE Mexico

The aim of this research paper was to identify whether the water quality had been influenced either by the natural environment or by anthropogenic activities or both in the municipality of Linares, the second largest city of the State of Nuevo Leon, NE Mexico. The superficial water (Pablillo River) and the groundwater quality (from a fractured and a porous aquifers hydraulically interconnected) were determined by comparing their chemical composition with maximum permissible limits for water consumption and irrigation use. A hydrogeochemical modeling was performed to identify the distribution of aqueous species responsible for the presence of some dissolved or precipitated mineral species, as well as an identification of geochemical factors responsible of superficial and groundwater quality. A canonical correspondence analysis was allowed to determine if the natural environment and/or anthropogenic activities were responsible for water quality. The parameters analysed in both aquifers, as well as in the Pablillo River, were total solids, suspended solids, nitrate, and chloride;barium and mercury were present in both aquifers. As a natural influence, the predominant mineral species are as following: under-saturated anhydrite (porous aquifer), over-saturated aragonite, calcite, dolomite, and gypsum (both aquifers and Pablillo River), barite and whiterite (only in fractured aquifer). The geochemical factors responsible for natural contamination were rock dominance (fractured aquifer), and evaporation dominance (porous aquifer, Pablillo River). On the other hand, anthropogenic activities such as changes in soil use and the presence of point (old municipal landfill, pig farms, barite deposit), and diffuse (agricultural areas, septic tanks and latrines) pollution sources had influence in the presence of contaminants such as total and fecal coliforms, nitrates, chlorides, mercury and barium. Several control and remediation strategies should be taken into account to prevent this pollution in the future.