THE APPLICATION OF RESISTIVITY METHOD, VERTICAL ELECTRICAL SOUNDING (VES) FOR THE LOCATION OF GOOD GROUNDWATER POTENTIAL AT THE FEMALE HOSTEL, FEDERAL UNIVERSITY DUTSINMA PERMANENT SITE

¹Akpaneno, A. F., ²Dogo Nehemiah, ³Afuwai, G. Cyril 

^{1, 2, 3}Department of Physics,

Federal University, Dustin-ma, katsina State, Nigeria

 Email:chidinmaaniefiokakpan@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

A Geophysical survey was carried out to investigate groundwater potential at the permanent site in female hostel of Federal University Dustin-ma, Katsina State Nigeria. The aim of the investigation is to explore the groundwater potential of the area with the objectives of determining the depth to basement, the depth and thickness of aquifer, the thickness of the weathered basement, the variation in resistivity of the overburden and for other, properties such as sediments at which portable groundwater can be obtained. The geo-electrical methods used in the survey were the Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) and Horizontal profiling. Five (5) VES were conducted using the Schlumberger configuration and Horizontal spread covering the entire area. The Horizontal Profiling data was carried out to obtain the lateral variation in resistivity. Based on the interpretation of the profiling data, areas with low resistivity were sounded along the traverse. The VES data were interpreted using geophysical software IPI2Win which showed that the area is composed of four layers namely; topsoil, weathered basement, fractured basement and fresh basement. Based on the interpretation of the VES points the depth to basement varies from 10.2 to 63.1m, the thickness of the aquifer varies from 2.34 to 62.2 m and it depths varies from 10.2 to 62.2 m, the resistivity of the overburden (topsoil) varies from 31.3 to 977 Ωm, the thickness of the weathered basement varies from 5.21 to 36.7 m. Contour maps were plotted using the SURFER 10 computer software showing all the topsoil resistivity, aquifer thickness and depth to basement at each VES point. Based on all the correlated data and information the following points VES 02, VES 04 and VES 05 are highly recommended for suitable groundwater establishment.

Keywords: Resistivity, Borehole, Vertical Electrical Sounding, Groundwater