Interpretation of geoelectrical data from an area of the entrance of wadi Qena, eastern desert, Egypt

Abstract

Wadi Qena is one of the most important wadis in Egypt. It represents an ancient tributary of the River Nile. The area under study represents a part of the entrance of the major wadi. It is covered by porous Quaternary alluvium. Such an environment is quite suitable for the groundwater charge from the occasional rainfalls. In this study, forty vertical electric soundings (40 VES-es) measured in the area are re-examined. The sounding data are automatically reduced and analysed using advanced software. Interpretation of each curve model provides the equivalent layering in the form of n-layers with different thicknesses and true resistivities. The interpreted results indicate the possible presence of two wet zones. The first one is very shallow (< 10 m) and formed as lenses. It possibly corresponds to the shallow waterbearing layer present in the area. The second wet zone is of great extension. Its depth ranges from 17 to 35 m and its thickness varies from 24 to 75 m. Possibly this zone corresponds to the quaternary aquifer prevailing in the Nile Valley. The last geoelectric layer below the Quaternary aquifer has remarkably high resistivity values. It possibly corresponds to a dry weathered zone