AI Summary & Key Takeaways
AI InsightTherefore, identifying structural elements is crucial to groundwater exploration in the basin.
📌 3 Key Takeaways
Abstract
The Lower White Volta River Basin (LWVRB), known for frequent borehole drilling failure, is facing a severe water shortage. However, because the communities within the basin are dispersed, it is not financially feasible to transport treated water from one community to another. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive lineament characterization that makes it possible to identify the areas in the LWVRB with high groundwater development potential. To delineate the subsurface lineaments, aeromagnetic data were used; analytical signal and total horizontal derivative of tilt derivatives filter were applied. The panchromatic band of the Landsat 8 image was used for the surface lineament delineation. The subsurface and surface lineaments were combined to create a lineament density map. There was a good correlation between the borehole log data, electromagnetic (EM) data, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) data, and aeromagnetic data. The study revealed six geoelectric layers with progressively lower electrical resistivity from top to bottom. From top to bottom, the layers are composed of laterite, sandstone, shale, mudstone, saturated sandstone, and siltstone. The basin is mainly a fissured hydrostratigraphic area with low-to-moderate groundwater potential. The groundwater potential of the basin depends on the fractured and weathered water-saturated sandstones and mudstone at a depth of 150 m. Therefore, identifying structural elements is crucial to groundwater exploration in the basin.