Geophysical investigations for groundwater in a hard rock terrain, Salem district, Tamil Nadu, India

  • K. Srinivasamoorthy
  • S. Chidambaram
  • M. Vasanthavigar
  • P. Anandhan
  • V. S. Sarma
Original Paper
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

The main aim of a geophysical investigation in a hard rock region is to solve different hydrogeological problems like depth of water table, basement rock, thickness of weathered zone/formation, structural and stratigraphic conditions relevant to groundwater conditions, and permeability of aquifers. A total of 54 vertical electrode soundings were carried out by Schlumberger electrode arrangement to signify complete lithology of the study area and interpretation was carried out by using curve matching techniques. From the study, 65 % of area is dominated by ‘A’ type curve indicating increasing resistivity with depth and 17 % by ‘K’ type representing a high-resistivity layer sandwiched between two low-resistivity layers. Four layer cases were also noted in 12 % of the study area indicating gradation between the weathered and fractured layers as a semi-weathered zone. Greater thickness has been identified in the weathered zone at the contact of peninsular gneiss and charnockite regions. The maximum, minimum, mean, and arithmetic mean were plotted and identified higher background resistivity values in charnockite. The overlay of maximum and minimum curves for different layers signifies variation of weathering intensity with depth or the presence of weaker zones. In general, lithology plays a significant control over weathering of rocks and groundwater potential.

Keywords

Electrical resistivity VES interpretation Lithology Spatial 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Notes

Acknowledgments

The author expresses his gratitude to the Department of Earth Sciences, Annamalai University for the use of resistivity meter for surveying.

References

  1. Al-Amri M (1996) The application of geoelectrical surveys in delineating groundwater in semiarid terrain case history from central Arabian Shield, M.E.R.C. Ain Shams Univ Earth Sci Sur 10:41–52Google Scholar
  2. Amigun JO, Owolabi ST, Adiat KAN (2012) Geophysical investigation at a proposed residential estate in Ibadan of Nigeria: hydrological and geotechnical implication. J Emer Tren Eng Appl Sci 3(2):368–374Google Scholar
  3. Anbalagan S (1993) Integrated groundwater study in drought prone Pennagaram, Dharmapuri district, Tamil Nadu. B Indian Geol Assoc 26(2):117–123Google Scholar
  4. Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) (2008) District groundwater brochure Salem District, Tamil Nadu. Techn Report Ser, pp 1–21Google Scholar
  5. Chandra Subash, Ahmed Shakeel, Ram Avadh, Dewandel Benoit (2008) Estimation of hard rock aquifers hydraulic conductivity from geoelectrical measurements: a theoretical development with field application. J Hydrol 357:218–227CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. Coker JO (2012) Vertical electrical sounding (VES) methods to delineate potential groundwater aquifers in Akobo area, Ibadan, South-western, Nigeria. J Geol Min Res 4(2):35–42Google Scholar
  7. Dahlin T (2001) The development of DC resistivity imaging techniques. Comp Geosci 27:1019–1029CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. Ezeh CC (2011) Geoelectrical studies for estimating aquifer hydraulic properties in Enugu state, Nigeria. Int J Phys Sci 6(14):3319–3329Google Scholar
  9. Ezeh CC, Ugwu GZ (2010) Geoelectrical sounding for estimating groundwater potential in Nsukka L.G.A. Enugu state, Nigeria. Int J Phyl Sci 5(5):415–420Google Scholar
  10. Gopalan CV (2011) A comparative study of the groundwater potential in hard rock areas of Rajapuram and Balal, Kasaragod, Kerala. J Ind Geophys Un 15(3):179–186Google Scholar
  11. Jagadeeswara Rao P, Rao Suryaprakasa, Rao Jagannadha, Harikrishna P (2003) Geoelectrical data analysis to demarcate groundwater pockets and recharge zones in Champavathi river basin, Vixianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh. J Ind Geophy 7(2):105–113Google Scholar
  12. Joshua Emmanuel O, Odeyemi Olayinka O, Fawehinmi Oladotun O (2011) Geoelectric investigation of the groundwater potential of Moniya area, Ibadan. J Geo Min Res 3(3):54–62Google Scholar
  13. K’Orowe MO, Nyadawa MO, Singh VS, Ratnakar (2010) Dhakate hydrogeophysical parameter estimation for aquifer characterisation in hard rock environments: a case study from Jangaon sub-watershed, India. J Ocean Mar Sci 2(3):50–62Google Scholar
  14. Kelly William E (1976) Geoelectric sounding for delineating groundwater contamination. Groundwater 14(1):6–10CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  15. Kosinski WK, Kelly WE (1981) Geoelectr Sound Predict Aquifer Prop 19(2):163–171Google Scholar
  16. Krishnamurthy NS, Kumar Dewashish, Rao Ananda, Jain SC, Ahmed Shakeel (2003) Comparison of surface and sub-surface geophysical investigations in delineating fracture zones. Curr Sci 84(9):1242–1246Google Scholar
  17. Lashkaripour GR (2003) An investigation of groundwater condition by geoelectrical resistivity method: a case study in Korin aquifer, Southeast Iran. J Spatl Hydrol 3(1):1–5Google Scholar
  18. Majumdar RK, Majumdar N, Mukherjee AL (2000) Geoelectric investigations in Bakreswar geothermal area, West Bengal, India. J Appl Geophy 45:187–202CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  19. Mondal NC, Rao VA, Singh VS, Sarwade DV (2008) Integrated approach for identification of potential groundwater zones in Seethanagaram Mandal of Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh, India. J Earth Syst Sci 117(2):133–144CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  20. Nejad HT, Lashkaripour GR (2010) Geoelectrical exploration for groundwater in shooroo basin, Southwest of Zahedan, Iran. In: The 1st international applied geological congress, Department of Geology, Islamic Azad University–Mashad Branch, Iran, 26–28 April 2010, pp 521–527Google Scholar
  21. Nejad Hadi Tahmasbi, Hoseini Fatemeh Zakeri, Mumipour Mehdi, Kaboli Abdolreza, Najib Morteza (2012) Delineation of the Aquifer in the Curin Basin, south of Zahedan city, Iran. Open Geol J 6:1–6CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  22. Orellana E, Mooney HM (1966) Master tables and curves for vertical electrical sounding over layered structures. Intercientia, MadridGoogle Scholar
  23. Oseji JO, Asokhia MB, Okolie EC (2006) Determination of groundwater potential in obiaruku and environs using surface geoelectric sounding. Environmentalist 26:301–308. doi: 10.1007/s10669-006-0159-x CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  24. Rai Basudeo, Tiwari A, Dubey VS (2005) Identification of groundwater prospective zones by using remote sensing and geoelectrical methods in Jharia and Raniganj coalfields, Dhanbad district, Jharkhand state. J Earth Syst Sci 114(5):515–522CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  25. Salem Halimi S (1999) Determination of fluid transmissivity and electric transverse resistance for shallow aquifers and deep reservoirs from surface and well-log electric measurements. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 3(3):421–427CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  26. Sharma SP, Baranwal VC (2005) Delineation of groundwater-bearing fracture zones in a hard rock area integrating very low frequency electromagnetic and resistivity data. J Appl Geophys 57:155–166CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  27. Srinivasamoorthy K (2005) Hydrogeochemistry of groundwater in Salem district, Tamil Nadu, India. Unpublished P.hD Thesis, Annamalai University, p 355Google Scholar
  28. Verma RK, Rao MK, Rao CV (1980) Resistivity investigations for ground water in metamorphic areas near Dhanbad, India. Groundwater 18(1):46–55CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  29. Zohdy AAR, Eaton GP, Mabey DR (1974) Applications of surface geophysics to groundwater investigations. USGS–TWRI book 2, chap D, p 116Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  • K. Srinivasamoorthy
    • 1
  • S. Chidambaram
    • 2
  • M. Vasanthavigar
    • 3
  • P. Anandhan
    • 2
  • V. S. Sarma
    • 4
  1. 1.Department of Earth Sciences, School of Physical, Chemical and Applied SciencesPondicherry UniversityKalapetIndia
  2. 2.Department of Earth SciencesAnnamalai UniversityAnnamalai NagarIndia
  3. 3.Department of Civil EngineeringAdhiparasakthi College of EngineeringMelmaruvathurIndia
  4. 4.National Geophysical Research Institute (CSIR)HyderabadIndia

Personalised recommendations