Saudi Journal of Engineering and Technology

Abbreviated Key Title: Saudi J Eng Technol

ISSN 2415-6272 (Print) |ISSN 2415-6264 (Online)
Scholars Middle East Publishers, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Journal homepage: http://scholarsmepub.com/sjet/

Original Research Article

2-D Electrical Resistivity Tomography for Groundwater Potential in

Basement1 Terrain of a Part of Ilorin Sheet3 223 NW4* Nigeria
1 1 2
S. A. Aromoye , S. A. Alimi , O. S. Bello , W. O. Raji , L. O. Olawale , D. S. Bonde
1
Department of Geology and Mineral Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
2
Departments of Applied Geophysics, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria
3
Department of Geological Sciences, Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria
4
Department of Physics, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero, Kebbi State, Nigeria

DOI:10.36348/SJET.2019.v04i09.004 | Received: 05.09.2019 | Accepted: 13.09.2019 | Published: 20.09.2019

*Corresponding author: Bonde Danladi Senchi

Abstract
In aiming to provide an economical supply of potable water for the inhabitant of University of Ilorin and its environs, 2-
D Electrical Resistivity Tomographic development was adopted. A 2-D Electrical Resistivity Tomographic Techniques
involves the application of gridded Wenner electrode arrangement in determining the variation of subsurface resistivity
distribution. The surveying were carried out on field by employing 7 profiles containing 22 layouts all together with a
constant surveying lengths of 150 m. The data obtained on field were inverted to obtain a pseudo-section where clearer
models of the depth and apparent formation resistivity can be viewed at the same time using EarthImager Software.
Three geo-electric layers were delineated which are Top soil, weathered/fractured Basement and fresh Basement. Out of
the 7 profiles obtained the fresh Basement rock was only seen at profile F-F’ having resistivity values ranging from
2000.1 to 10000 Ωm. The thickness of the weathered/fractured basement (aquifer) is generally greater than 22.0 m and
with a low resistivity values which are less than 30 Ωm at some zones. In conclusion, this study shows some levels of
confidence that the groundwater potential within Unilorin substratum is of economic volume that is capable to sustain
Unilorin and its environs.
Keywords: 2-D Electrical Resistivity Tomography, inversion, fresh Basement, Weathered/Fractured Basement, Regolith,
Substratum.
Copyright @ 2019: This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution license which permits unrestricted
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium for non-commercial use (NonCommercial, or CC-BY-NC) provided the original author and source
are credited.

INTRODUCTION basement in Basement terrain areas with relatively thick

Water is as important as any other classes of overburden overlies fractured zones [5, 6].
food in human’s life. Groundwater as a source of water
required an adequate exploration techniques to pin- The Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT)
point layers where an economical volume of potable method is an electrical testing method where current is
water could be exploit. Groundwater in Basement induced into the subsurface through two current
Complex terrain might be a bit difficult due to the low electrodes and the electrical potential difference
porosity and permeability nature of the rocks, between two potential electrodes were measured
previously it was assumed to be poor aquifers or with accordingly. There are different electrode arrays which
limited groundwater yield [1]. Thus, groundwater in a could be used for this process, but all arrays are aimed
Basement Complex terrain is tending towards zero or at gathering data to estimate lateral and vertical
minimal because this is only confined to fractured, variations in subsurface resistivity values. ERT can be
weathered/regolith zones within this rock. In Basement used to delineate variations in the subsurface geology
Complex terrain, groundwater potential depends on the which could be lithology, presence of groundwater,
thickness of the weathered/fractured layer [2]. The fractured zones, presence of contamination plume, and
overburden has high porosity and contains some variations in soil saturation. ERT is often the best
quantities of water but with low permeability due to option for mapping cavities such as caves,
high clay content [3]. The fractured basements rocks are limestone/karst and evaporate dissolution sinkholes.
the primary source to store and permit the movement of Electrical methods are mostly affected by geochemistry
groundwater [4]. Groundwater exploration and of the subsurface that is, the grain size distribution,
development should be targeted towards the fractured groundwater chemistry and or presence of
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contamination plume. A 2-D Electrical Resistivity Location and Geological Settings

Tomography method is a proven technique to The study area is the present University of
investigate shallow subsurface structures in various Ilorin, main campus which is located within latitude
environments [7-9]. Previous studies have shown that 2- 8°27ˊ00ˊˊ N and 8°30ˊ00ˊˊ N and longitudes 4°38ˊ00ˊˊ
D ERT have been used in bedrock detection, geological E and 4°45ˊ00ˊˊ E on a scale of 1:50000 (Fig-2). It
mapping and groundwater investigation [10, 11]. covers a total area of about 75.264 km2. Some
neighbouring settlements around University of Ilorin
The present study employed an application of include Olokobiri, Aiyereke-Ile, Atere, Agunbiade,
electrical resistivity methods to identify the potential of Bada, Alaya, Isokun, Agbada, Jibowu, Folawiyo-
the subsurface geological structures favourable for Folatere, Jalala Agogo, Bolorundoro, Tanke Oke-Odo.
groundwater potentials in University of Ilorin and its The study area is situated in a transition zone between
environs. A 2-D Electrical Resistivity Tomographic the forest and savannah region of Nigeria. University of
method was used due to its high signal to noise strength Ilorin campus is situated within the Precambrian
and Wenner electrode configuration was employed to Basement Complex of Southwestern Nigeria (Fig-1). Its
depict a 2-D model of the subsurface geo-electric Basement Complex comprises of Crystalline Basement
sections. An electrical resistivity tomography provides rocks of high grade metamorphic rock facies. The
more detailed models of the subsurface by depicting Crystalline Basement rocks in Kwara State must have
both the horizontal and vertical resistivity variations in been affected by both Eburnean and Pan-African
the survey line even in the presence of geological Orogeny. The magmatization and metamorphism of the
complexities [12]. This study is very important because ancient Metasediment was caused by Eburnean
of a vast increment in the population of the University Orogeny while the intrusion of the Granitic materials
community and the proposed Agricultural project that was produced by Pan-African Orogeny [13]. The
will surely involves large consumption of potable water Geological Map of the Northeastern portion of Ilorin
in the area. Sheet 223 NW (Fig-2) and the mapped rocks were
Migmatite-Gneiss Complex, Banded gneiss,
Porphyroblastic Gneiss, Augen Gneiss, Granite Gneiss,
Quartzite, Older Granite rocks (Granite), and Late
intrusive rocks (Pegmatitic intrusions, Quartz veins).

Fig-1: Geological Map of Nigeria showing the Study Area (Geological Survey of Nigeria, 2006)

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Fig-2: Geological Map of the Study Area

METHODOLOGY The 2-D Electrical Resistivity Data for this

This study utilized only electrical resistivity study was acquired using Gridded Wenner
method for the assessment of groundwater potential Configuration of the Electrical Resistivity method with
between Unilorin and its environs. A 2-D Electrical AB/2 ranging from 30 m to 150 m per layout along the
Resistivity method was used among the common Electrical Resistivity profile at NNW–SSE direction
resistivity methods through Wenner array spreading across the prominent zones of structural trending seen
because of its high signal to noise to strength. on the field which are in NE-SW direction within the
study area. This ground truthing was carried out along
seven (7) profiles with lengths of 300 m and 600 m that
contain two and four layouts respectively (Fig-3).

Fig-3: Showing the 7 Profiles within the Study Area

This makes a total of twenty-two layouts with separations (a) of 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 m were
which each layout has 150 m length. Four profiles employed for sounds probing (Fig-4) as the depth of
among the seven, namely profiles A-A’, B-B’, C-C’ and investigation depends on the electrode separation and
D-D’ had 600 m length each that contained four layouts geometry with greater electrode separations yielding
while the remaining three profiles, profile E-E’, F-F’ bulk resistivity measurement from greater depths.
and G-G’ had 300 m length each with two layouts. A Sixteen (16) electrodes were used that give a length of
successive regular spacing interval (n) of 10 m was 150 m for each layout with the maximum depth of
adopted all through for profiles probing and electrode penetration to be 28.5 m (Figure-4).

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Fig-4: Depths Probe Layout in Gridded Wenner (Alpha) Array [14]

The median depth of investigation for Wenner layer is about 7.80 m. This layer is underlain by the
(Alpha) array is approximately 0.519 times the “a” weathered/fractured rock layer with intermediate
spacing or one-sixth the array length “L” used [14]. The resistivity value and it has thicknesses that range from
2-D EarthImager computer software was employed for 9.44 to 28.5 m. The last layer is the crystalline
carrying out the iteration and inversion processes. basement rock of resistivity values ranging from 2000
to 10000 Ωm and the depth to the bedrock is greater
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION than 28.5 m with an infinity thickness. This crystalline
The resistivity tomograms show the images of basement rock was not penetrated by the electrical
the pseudo-sections obtained from the processed data. survey in most places within the probed locations at its
Figures 5-11, are the electrical tomography results maximum depth of penetration of 28.5 m except in
across the prominent zones of geological structural profile F-F’ where the depth is shallower, ranging from
trending seen on the field which are in NE-SW 0.2 to 10.44 m at the NNW portion of profile F-F’. The
direction within the study area. weathered/fractured rock layer is characterized by low
electrical resistivity values and within this thick
The 2-D Electrical Resistivity method revealed weathered/fractured basement rock layer, there are
the hydrogeological significance of the study since the several very low resistivity structures (< 30 Ωm)
observed resistivity values are dependent on rock oriented approximately in North-South direction. This
conditions (pore geometry, porosity), the degree of layer corresponds to the groundwater aquifer in the area
saturation, and the chemistry of the saturating fluid. with the thickness greater than 22.0 m across the
Detail interpretation of the 2-D Electrical Resistivity profiles except at NNW portion along profile F-F’
Tomograms (ERT) revealed three geo-electric layers where the thickness is less than 9.44 m. This layer
namely; the topsoil layer, weathered/fractured rock corresponds to the possible basement aquifer that may
layer, and the fresh basement rock layer. The topsoil yield sufficient groundwater to wells in the Nigerian
composes of wet unconsolidated sediment and or dry Basement Complex region. All the probed structures
lateritic sand with resistivity of very low to very high across the study area were proven to be proficient in
values respectively. The maximum thickness of this groundwater.

Fig-5: Inverted Resistivity Model (Tomogram) of Profile A-A’

Fig-6: Inverted Resistivity Model (Tomogram) of Profile B-B’

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Fig-7: Inverted Resistivity Model (Tomogram) of Profile C-C’

Fig-8: Inverted Resistivity Model (Tomogram) of Profile D-D’

Fig-9: Inverted Resistivity Model (Tomogram) of Profile E-E’

Fig-10: Inverted Resistivity Model (Tomogram) of Profile F-F’

Fig-11: Inverted Resistivity Model (Tomogram) of Profile G-G’

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CONCLUSION International journal of Science and Research,

In conclusion, 2-D Electrical Resistivity 4(4), 154-156.
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