Groundwater potential assessment using Dar Zarrouk parameters in Marke and environs, Song LGA, Adamawa State, Northeastern Nigeria

Abstract

The demand for water in Marke and environs is escalating into a difficult situation as a result of expanding agricultural and mineral exploration in the area. It is widely known geologically that such areas exhibit a poor aquifer system for groundwater occurrence, and this necessitated this research work. The research is aimed at determining the groundwater potentials in Marke and Environ. The study area falls between latitude 9o44'N and 09o48'N and longitude 12o 23'E to 12o28'E. This research employed Schlumberger array of geophysical survey to investigate the groundwater potentials in the study area. Sixteen vertical electrical sounding surveys were conducted, and the groundwater potential maps were developed with the aid of geographic information systems software (ArcGIS). From the VES survey data, four layers of rock formation were identified: topsoil, clay, weathered crystalline rocks, and fractured crystalline rock. The rocks that formed the aquifer system in Marke and environs are moderate to highly fractured basement rock with a total thickness of 25-50. For the Dar Zarrouk parameters, the overall longitudinal conductance ranges from 0.1584 to 1.1111 siemens with a mean value of 0.576 siemens. The values of high longitudinal conductance are restricted to VES 1, VES2, VES3, and VES6.
Transmissivity values varied from 134.953 to 604.725 m2/day with a mean of 293.361. The combined  analysis of the spatial distribution map for longitudinal conductance, transverse resistance, transmissivity, and hydraulic conductivity revealed that the northwestern part of Marke and environs exhibit high groundwater potential, while the northeastern part has moderate groundwater potential.