Application of Land Magnetic and Geoelectrical Techniques for Delineating Groundwater Aquifer: Case Study in East Oweinat, Western Desert, Egypt

Two geophysical tools were used to delineate the configuration of the Nubian sandstone aquifer in the study area. Three hundred magnetic points were measured and analyzed to evaluate the subsurface structural setting and to trace the basement relief, which control the aquifer's geometry. The magnetic interpretations refer to dominant faults that strike in various directions, namely N-S, NE-SW, and NW-SE. The top of the basement complex was recorded at depths of 384-1286 m, and the aquifer thickness ranged from 299 to 1169 m. Thirty vertical electrical sounding points of AB/2 with depths ranging from 1.5 to 700 m were used to estimate the parameters of the Nubian sandstone aquifer. The geoelectrical data indicate that the area consists of 5 units; the first unit is composed of sand and gravel, the second unit of ferruginous sandstone, the third unit of clay, the fourth unit of dry sandstone, and the last unit of sandstone saturated with groundwater. The groundwater in the study area is freshwater of high quality usable for all purposes.

Automated summary

Two geophysical tools were utilized to delineate the configuration of the Nubian sandstone aquifer in the study area, revealing dominant faults striking in different directions and variable aquifer thickness. The geoelectrical data indicated the presence of 5 units in the area, with freshwater of high quality available for various purposes.