Correction of 2D electrical resistivity and self-potential methods for the assessment of the integrity of Goronyo dam NW Nigeria

Abstract

In this research, combined 2D electrical resistivity and self -potential (SP) methods were employed to locate anomalous electrical conductivity around the Goronyo dam in order to determine the condition of the embankment of the earth dam. The data were taken with the reference to resistivity and SP values using Wenner configuration. The results obtained from these techniques shows that the area was underlain by four stratigraphic layers, namely; clayey sand, wet sandy clay, laterite and partially weathered basement complex rock as compared with the resistivities of common rocks and borehole lithology of the area. The low SP (< 200 mV)/high resistivity zones in the overburden of profiles P1, P2 and P3 shows the presence of partially weathered basement complex rocks which was probably due to compactness and dryness around the dam. However, the zones of high SP (≥ 200 mV)/low apparent resistivity regions (z1 and z2 ) of profiles P1 (2 Ωm to 27 Ωm), P2 (3 Ωm to 25 Ωm) and P3 (3 Ωm to 14 Ωm) have revealed the weak zones associated with wet sandy soil. Results obtained from 2D electrical resistivity (z1) technique have correlated well with the results of SP sections (z 2). These regions of weak zones occupied the x-distance along the profiles; P1/or S2 (120 m to 200 m and 250 m to 400 m), P2/or S2 (1 m to 156 m and 192 m to 400 m) and P3/or S3 (48 m to 400 m) with their corresponding depth y, ranging from 23 m to 30 m, 26 m to 30 m and 23 m to 30 m.