Exploration of Groundwater within the Mariam Babangida Girls Science Secondary School Minna, North-central Nigeria using Schlumberger Vertical Electrical Sounding Techniques

Abstract

A geoelectrical investigation adopting Schlumberger vertical electrical sounding (VES) have been carried out to explore for groundwater within the premises of Mariam Babangida Girls Science Secondary School, Bosso, Minna, Niger State. This is with a view to resolve the problem of acute water shortages experienced by the staff and students of the institution. The area lies within the basement rock complex of North Central Nigeria with biotite granite and muscovite granite constituting the main lithological units. The survey was carried out using ABEM SAS 300C Terrameter along five (5) established traverses with 40m maximum electrode separation. The VES data were analyzed and interpreted through curve matching and the use of Resist software to obtain the geoelectric parameters. These were used in constructing the 1D geoelectric sections and the isopach map. The geoelectric sections revealed the presence of four geo-electric layers namely the top soil, the weathered layer, the partly weathered/fractured bedrock and the resistive bedrock. The contoured depth to bedrock contour map reveals a significant linear feature delineated by the VES as fractures beneath T2V7, T2V8 and T3V9 and is filled with clayey substratum except T3V9 that are characterized by clayey sand materials. T3V9 is therefore recommended for drilling and groundwater development to a depth of about 30m. However, the groundwater potential of the study area is generally very low.