Interaction of Alluvial and Karstic Aquifers in North of Allah Akbar Highlands Dargaz Using Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) Method

فصلنامه آب و توسعه پایدار

Article 4, Volume 11, Issue 4 - Serial Number 34, March 2025, Pages 15-24   

Document Type: Case Study

DOI: 10.22067/jwsd.v11i4.2410-1366

Authors

Hossein Mohammadzadeh^{* 1}; Mohammad Gholamkar aliabadi²; Jafar Hashemi²

¹Groundwater and Geothermal Research Center (GRC), Water and Environment Research Institute, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran. Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

²Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Investigating aquifers and determining the alluvial and karst aquifers interaction, especially in the border areas of the country, is very important. With geoelectrical methods (Vertical Electrical Sounding -VES), it is possible to determine the subsurface geological layering, aquifer layers, the depth to bedrock and the apparent resistivity (ρa) of the geological layers. In this paper, by performing 40 VES in the northern plain of Darghz Allah Akbar Heights (DAH), calculating the ρa of the layers and interpreting the geoelectrical sections, the aquifers up to the depth of 350 meters and the relationship between alluvial and Tirgan karstic aquifer (TKA) have been investigated. The results show the presence of alluvial aquifers up to 20 meters depth in the south, east and west of Chapeshlo, north and northwest of Daghdar and west of Dargaz industrial town, as well as the presence of deep karstic aquifers in the southeast of Chapeshlo, northeast of Sugandi, north of Gandab, and west of Daghdar. The changes in ρa and the depth to bedrock show that there is not much relationship between the alluvial and TKA. Considering the absence of highly discharged springs around DAH and the low thickness of the alluvial aquifer, it can be concluded that most groundwater of the TKA, except in limited places at the foot of the DAH (Cheholmir and Cherlaq areas) has little effect on feeding of alluvial aquifer of Daragaz southern plain, and due to the barrier function of the deeper fine-grained layers, the groundwater flow paths are towards the depths or Dorbadam and Shamkhal valleys.

Keywords

Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES); Alluvial Aquifer; Karst Aquifer; Allah Akbar Heights; Daragaz

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