Combining Resistivity and Aeromagnetic Geophysical Surveys for Groundwater Exploration in the Maghnia Plain of Algeria

Abstract

The Maghnia plain in western Algeria is filled by Plio-Quaternary and Miocene sediments that rest unconformably on a basement of Jurassic rocks. Electrical sounding (VES), magnetic data, well information, and hydrogeological data have been used to explore for groundwater potential in the Maghnia plain. The interpretation of Schlumberger sounding data was first calibrated with the lithology of available nearby wells. Four geoelectrical layers were identified within the study area. They are a thin near surface topsoil layer with variable resistivities, a moderate resistive aquifer (15-30 ohm-m), a resistive aquifer (40-70 ohm-m), and a conductive clay layer (1-10 ohm-m). Near Sidi Mbarek, the geoelectric section is reduced to three layers: a topsoil layer, a conductive layer corresponding to the Miocene marls, and a deep resistive layer that correlates with the Oxfordian sandstones. The interpretation of VES data and the enhancement techniques of magnetic data enabled the identification of a number of unmapped faults that occur near recharge zones close to adjacent mountains. This study enabled us to study the extension of the known Plio-Quaternary aquifer of the Maghnia plain and to explore the possible existence of a second deep groundwater aquifer in Oxfordian sandstones.

Assessment of groundwater quality in a semiarid region of Northwestern Algeria using water quality index (WQI)

“…As shown in The actual groundwater status has not changed significantly compared to the study period; the Hydrographical Basin Agency's reports have revealed that the actual situation of groundwater has been marked by continuous decreases in water quality caused by the synergistic effects of drought, changing land use, pollution from agriculture and industrialization, as well as from natural processes (weathering of soil and rock) (ABHOCC 2009a(ABHOCC , b, 2012(ABHOCC , 2016. Current groundwater use practices have led to overexploitation of some aquifers in Tafna basin (e.g., aquifer of Maghnia); some aquifers in the Coastal Oranais basin have also not escaped overexploitation with the Bredeah and Coastal Oranais Plain aquifers suffering from saltwater intrusion (Dahmani and Bithorel 2001;Gaaloul et al 2012;Adjim and Bensaoula 2013;Boubaya 2017;Alfarrah and Walraevens 2018). The continuous monitoring of groundwater is required to get the recent groundwater quality status to check any possible contamination in future due to growing industrialization and agricultural activities; the influence of salt water on the some freshwater aquifers in the study area needs special attention in terms of monitoring and for sustainable management.…”

Aeromagnetic mapping of fault architecture along Lagos–Ore axis, southwestern Nigeria

“…Magnetic data can be acquired on ground, in air, and in marine; however, the regional study requires aeromagnetic data. Aeromagnetic data is an essential tool in delineation of Basement rocks and estimation of depth to magnetic sources, even in sedimentary terrain without being disturbed by obstacles [61][62][63][64].…”

Spatio-Temporal Assessment of the Water Quality of the Hammam Boughrara Dam (North-West Algeria)

“…It also contains shallow calcium formations (Luvisols) and alluvial marshland (fluvisols) developed in the northern part of the Maghnia plain. The southern part of the plain comprises red soils (arenosols) to crusting formed from saliferous marnes of the Miocene [Boubaya, 2017].…”