The "Autorite des amenegements des valees des Voltas (AVV)" is establishing new rural settlements in the Volta valleys. First, a survey of available water supplies is performed. Economic aquifers in Precambrian terrains are deep (15-50 m) and usually occur in fractured zones accompanying faults. Such zones can be identified on aerial photographs, but their precise location on the ground is virtually impossible by visual means. Because of the small size of the aquifers, a location error of 5 m can make the difference between a productive well and a dry hole.Traditionally, resistivity profiling has been used as the means of locating the fractured zones in the field. Our studies suggest that the task can be performed faster, cheaper and more accurately by VLF and EM methods. Because of the limited choice of transmitting stations receivable in Upper Volta, the VLF method is not sufficiently sensitive to detect conductors with a strike between 45" and 105". The results obtained with a multifrequency, horizontal-loop EM (HLEM) system were satisfactory in all investigated areas. During the 1980 field season, 35 target areas were surveyed. Of the 24 holes drilled so far, 23 are productive.The weathered layer is a source ofdistinctive HLEM anomalies, which are characteristic of the underlying rocks. Therefore, different interpretational procedures had to be developed for granitic and volcano-sedimentary areas. Despite the high background level of in-phase and quadrature components, which varied with thickness and conductivity of the weathered layer, aquifers could be detected at a depth greater than 30 m. Attempts were made to interpret the 932-955.
Recent improvements of the INPUT airborne electromagnetic system have made possible a more quantitative approach to interpretation. The necessary interpretational aids can be obtained in two ways: either by correlating the system and ground EM measurements, or by devising computational or analog quantitative models. Both approaches have been explored. In the former, the system decay rate can be correlated with the apparent conductivity‐thickness (σt) estimated by ground surveys. In the latter, four quantitative models were investigated, vertical half‐plane, vertical ribbon, dipping half‐plane, and homogeneous half‐space. Nomograms have been constructed which make it possible to determine σt, conductor depth, and dip for sheet‐like conductors, and conductivity for a homogeneous half‐space. Field examples show that this procedure can be used satisfactorily in the routine interpretation of records obtained by this system.
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