The Use of Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) for Subsurface Geophysical Investigation around Bomo Area, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

Electrical resistivity investigation was carried out around Bomo area, Zaria, Kaduna state, in order to study the subsurface geologic layer with a view of determining the depth to the bedrock and thickness of the geologic layers. Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) using Schlumberger array was carried out at fifteen (15) VES stations. ABEM terrameter (SAS 300) was used for the data acquisition. The field data obtained have been analysed using computer software (IPI2win) which gives an automatic interpretation of the apparent resistivity. The VES results revealed heterogeneous nature of the subsurface geological sequence. The geologic sequence beneath the study area is composed of hard pan top soil (clayey and sandy-lateritic), weathered layer, partly weathered or fractured basement and fresh basement. The resistivity value for the topsoil layer varies from 40Ωm to 450Ωm with thickness ranging from 1.25 to 7.5 m. The weathered basement has resistivity values ranging from 50Ωm to 593Ωm and thickness of between 1.37 to 20.1 m. The fractured basement has resistivity values ranging from 218Ωm to 520Ωm and thickness of between 12.9 to 26.3 m. The fresh basement (bedrock) has resistivity values ranging from 1215Ωm to 2150Ωm with infinite depth. However, the depth from the earth's surface to the bedrock surface varies between 2.63 to 34.99 m. The study further stressed the importance of the findings in civil engineering structures and groundwater prospecting.

Determination of some heavy metals in borehole and well water from selected industrial areas of Kaduna metropolis

“…This is because there is no much industrial as well as human activities in the control site when compared with the studied sites. In the present study, the concentration of nickel obtained is almost the same with that reported by Jatau et al, (2008) in water analysis from Kaduna metropolis, which was 0.28mg/l. Also, Abdulrahman et al, (2011) analysed for copper in ground water from Riyad and was found to be 0.07mg/l which is the same with that obtained in this research work, Ogbonna et al, (2011) obtained 0.08mg/l in water sample from Kano metropolis.…”

“…This is as a result of industrial pollution is higher in the studied site more than that of the control site. In the present study, the concentration of iron obtained is almost the same with that reported by Jatau et al, (2008) in water analysis from Kaduna metropolis, which was in the range of 0.32-0.67mg/l. Also, Abdulrahman et al, (2011) analysed for iron in ground water from Riyad and was found to be 0.09mg/l which is lower than that obtained in this research work.…”

Fractional Current Flow in the Subsurface Using Electrical Resistivity Method: A Laboratory Approach

“…Over the years, engineering studies and groundwater exploration are on the increase as a result of geophysical survey. This is made possible due to the swift advances in software development and associated numerical modelling solutions which have shown the way to the development of the present day technology [12][13][14]. Studies have shown that vertical electrical sounding (VES) and electrical profiling are the two ways by which electrical resistivity survey can be conducted [6,15,16].…”

Groundwater Investigation Using Geophysical Methods- A Case Study of Pydibhimavaram Industrial Area

“…The electrical geophysical survey method is the detection of the surface effects produced by the flow of electric current inside the earth. The electrical techniques have been used in a wide range of geophysical investigations such as mineral exploration, engineering studies, geothermal exploration, archeological investigations, permafrost mapping and geological mapping [4]. Using this method, depth and thickness of various subsurface layers and their water yielding capabilities can be inferred.…”