Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 2019, 7, 102-115
https://www.scirp.org/journal/gep
ISSN Online: 2327-4344
ISSN Print: 2327-4336
DOI: 10.4236/gep.2019.712007 Dec. 17, 2019 102 Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection
2D Electrical Resistivity Imaging for
Delineation of Crystalline Basement
Aquifer in Northern Ghana
Akwasi Acheampong Aning
1*
, Charles Kwabena Sarfo
1
, Patrick Amankwaa Mainoo
2
,
Reginald Mensah Noye
1
1
Department of Physics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
2
Water Research Institute (WRI), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Accra, Ghana
Abstract
Lack of access to potable and adequate water is a major problem for sustaina-
ble development in northern Ghana. Developing groundwater resource is the
best option for safe, reliable, and cost-efficient water supplies to these dis-
persed communities. In this study, nine 2D ERI profiles were carried out with
the Schlumberger array in eight communities underlain by the crystalline
basement rocks in the Bole District of the Savannah Region of Ghana. The
aim was to delineate the aquifer zones and select points for groundwater ex-
traction. Nine boreholes were drilled from the selected points. The yield was
found to vary from 12 to 180 l/min with a depth range of 50 to 70 m. The
weathered and fractured zones together with the bedrock topography were
clearly marked. It is evident that the 2D electrical resistivity technique is use-
ful tool in determining the availability of groundwater in weathered and
fractured crystalline environment.
Keywords
Electrical Resistivity Imaging, Ghana, Crystalline, Aquifer, Mapping
1. Introduction
The demand for water for domestic, industrial, and agricultural use the world
over continues to increase due to increase in population size. In most developing
countries including Ghana, accessing potable water for domestic use for instance
is a major challenge, particularly, to rural dwellers and in some instances cities
as well. As a result of this challenge, most people source water from streams,
How to cite this paper: Aning, A. A.,
Sarfo, C. K., Mainoo, P. A., & Noye, R. M.
(2019). 2D Electrical Resistivity Imaging for
Delineation of Crystalline Basement Aqui-
fer in Northern Ghana. Journal of Geos-
cience and Environment Protection, 7, 102-
115.
https://doi.org/10.4236/gep.2019.712007
Received: November 7, 2019
Accepted: December 14, 2019
Published: December 17, 2019
Copyright © 2019 by author(s) and
Scientific Research Publishing Inc.
This work is licensed under the Creative
Commons Attribution International
License (CC BY 4.0).
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Open Access