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Hydrogeological potential estimation of Ngoua watershed, West Cameroon, using petrography, Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), and geophysical data

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Abstract

This work aims to determine the hydrogeological potential of the Ngoua watershed using the electrical method of Wenner-Schlumberger array, SRTM images analysis, and the petrographic study. The petrographic study consisted of the description of rock outcrops and the observation of rock samples under the microscope to determine the nature of the bedrock in the fractured aquifers. This study revealed a single rock type with the gneiss outcrops from slab in the study area and consist of quartz, plagioclase, alkaline feldspar, biotite, chlorite, and hornblende. The lineaments of the zone were highlighted through (1) the analysis of the STRM image which automatically consisted to the extraction of the lineaments to draw the rose diagram of fracture directions and (2) the interpretation of the transition domains of resistivity values on an isoresistivity map considering the transition zones between high and low resistivity values as fracture zones. This results in 4 main fractured directions namely N 0–10° E, N 80–90° E (obtained on the SRTM image) and N 40–50° E, N 180–170° E (obtained on the isoresistivity map). Some of the lineaments obtained on the isoresistivity map are very similar to the results of the SRTM image (N 0–10° E and N 180–170° E). This means that the electrical method allows the lineaments to be mapped; however, the difference observed in the results (N 40–50° E and N 80–90° E) suggests a reduction of the interval between the electrical resistivity measuring stations. The geo-electric prospecting shows that the resistivity values range from 200 to 4900 Ω.m between low-resistant formations and high-resistant formations respectively. Many types of electrical sounding curves were obtained (A, H, KH, and HK). These curves allow to distinguish in the area the surface aquifers from 2 to 19 m, the intermediate aquifers between 20 and 48 m and deep aquifers from 49 to 74 m. Localities with good hydrogeological potential are those in which there are both rivers and fractured zones with an average depth of the ground water estimated at 8 m, 30 m, and 57 m respectively from subsurface, intermediate, and deep aquifers.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to BEIG3 Laboratory for giving them the opportunity to participate in the collection of data used in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Science, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 67, Dschang, Cameroon

    Kenzo-Tongnang Merlot Le-sage, Kenfack Jean Victor, Kengni Lucas, Njueya Kopa Adoua, Mouafo Saa Sylvano & Ngantouo Jules

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  1. Kenzo-Tongnang Merlot Le-sage
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  2. Kenfack Jean Victor
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  3. Kengni Lucas
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  4. Njueya Kopa Adoua
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Correspondence to Kenfack Jean Victor.

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Merlot Le-sage, KT., Jean Victor, K., Lucas, K. et al. Hydrogeological potential estimation of Ngoua watershed, West Cameroon, using petrography, Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), and geophysical data. Arab J Geosci 14, 2207 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-08416-1

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