K.O. Ibrahim et al / Journal of Environment (2012), Vol. 01, Issue 01, pp.

21-25

ISSN 2049-8373

Research Paper

Geoelectrical Soundings to Investigate Groundwater

Potential of Orisunmibare Village in Ilorin South Area of
Kwara State, Nigeria
K.O. Ibrahim1, P.I. Olasehinde1, A.O. Akinrinmade2 and A. Isa2
1

Department of Geology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin

Department of Geology, Federal University of Technology, Minna
E-Mail: ibrahim.ko@unilorin.edu.ng

Abstract
A Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) Method was employed to determine the groundwater potential of Orisunmibare
Village in the neighbourhood of federal government college, Ilorin. The purpose of this study was to determine the
feasibility of a portable water borehole in the study area. Presently, there is no municipal water supply in the study area and
the water source is from individual hand dug wells. A total of nine VES were carried out in different parts of the study area
with DDR1 resistivity meter equipped with an SAS 2000 booster by means of Schlumberger electrode array configuration.
The interpretation of the VES curve was carried out by partial curve matching method to obtain initial model parameters
and computer iterations using WinResist Software. The curves reveal that the area is characterized by five classes of geoelectric layers. First, highly resistive topsoil layer has a thickness between 0.2-1.0 m. The second lateritic clay layer
has thickness ranges from 3.3-15.0 m. Third layer is highly weathered basement with thickness of 6.0-30.7 m. The fourth
fractured with weathered rock layer has thickness from 20.0-40.2 m, and fresh basement representing
fifth layer has a thickness from 20 m and above. The results indicate the occurrence of good aquifers in the
first, second, third, fourth, and fifth VES stations in the form of the weathered and fractured basement. Results also
indicate that borehole drilling in the study area is achievable but to a depth of 45 meters to allow large reservoir within the
aquifers.
Keywords: Vertical Electrical Soundings, DDR1 Resistivity Meter, Schlumberger Array, Visual Curve Inspection Win
Resist Software

1. Introduction
Water is one of the most valuable natural resources vital to
the existence of any form of life. An adequate supply of
safe water for maintaining ecosystem that supports all life
and for achieving sustainable development (Topfer, 1998).
As mans standard of living increase so does his need for
consumption of water. However, the use of water has
grown rapidly in modern times. Though, a significant
portion of water resources have become unusable due to
industrial and agricultural pollution. Diversions or transfer
of watershed to other region have led to many ecological
and human disasters (Gleick et al, 2002).

Irrespective of its importance, a global paucity of safe

drinking water had been established (UN, 2002; UNEP,
2002; WHO and UNICEF, 2004). Specifically UN (2002)
reports that 1.1 billion people, representing 18% of the
worlds population, lack access to drinking water. The
average amount of water used domestically each day by
every person is about 190 litres (Hamill & Bell, 1986).
The use of geophysics for both groundwater resource
mapping and for water quality, evaluations has increased
dramatically over the years. The Vertical Electrical

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K.O. Ibrahim et al / Journal of Environment (2012), Vol. 01, Issue 01, pp. 21-25

Soundings (VES) has proved very popular with

groundwater studies due to simplicity of the technique.
Groundwater has become immensely important for human
water supply in urban and rural areas in developed and
developing nations alike (Omosuyi, 2010). Presently, there
is no municipal water supply in this area of study and the
main source of water supply is from individual hand dug
wells. However, the ground water conditions of this area
when properly understood could be used as an effective
tool in the planning of a reliable water borehole for people
in the study area either through the state government,
federal government, local government or private
individuals.

sources as an effective management tool in the planning of

a reliable water supply scheme (Okurumeh & Oteze,
1996).
Investigation involving detail geophysical study for
groundwater potential in the area covered by this study is
presently non-existent. This exigency inspired this study.
Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to
determine the groundwater potential and to identify
suitable sites for exploitation of groundwater through
drilling of boreholes in Orisunmibare Village in the
neighbourhood of federal government college, Ilorin.

2. Geology and Hydrogeology of Study Area

The sounding points are located between latitudes 08o

31.224 and 08o 31.360 and longitudes 4o 29.142 and 4o
29.607 in the neighbourhood of federal government
college Ilorin (Figure 1). Although, many geological and
hydrogeological investigations have been carried out by
various scholars in most parts of Ilorin. Olasehinde
(1999a)
worked
on
preliminary
results
of
hydrogeochemical investigations in Ilorin area i.e. SouthWestern Nigeria. Garba (1999) worked on the
hydrogeological implications of the perched aquifer
system of Ilorin.

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The study area is in the intermediate zone between semiarid in the north and sub-humid climate in the south, hence
characterized by two distinct seasons, that is the wet
season start in late March and ends in the mid of October,
while cold and dry weather due to influence of Harmattan
is observed in the month of December and January. The
vegetation is basically Savannah (Guinea) interspersed
with tropical forest remnants (Esan, 1999).

"
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2.1. Physiography and Climate

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ISSN 2049-8373

Rd

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LEGEND

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80 Miles

Road Junctions
River
Rail Line
Dam
Road

Figure 1. Location Map of Study Area (Inserted is Geological Map of Nigeria)

The ground water conditions in an area when properly

understood could be used conjunctively with surface

The rainfall is moderate with general annual average of

about 1,250 mm with maximum rainfall occurring in the

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K.O. Ibrahim et al / Journal of Environment (2012), Vol. 01, Issue 01, pp. 21-25

months of June and August and a low humidity of about

50%. The mean annual temperature for this study area is
about 27.2 oC and 31 oC, while the mean annual minimum
falls between 22 oC and 23 oC. The warmest months fall
between January and March with an average monthly
temperature of about 28 oC and the mean annual
evapotranspiration falls between 1,500 mm and 1,750 mm
Isolines (Olasehinde, 1999b).
2.2. Geology & Hydrogeology
Orisunmibare Village, the study area, is underlain by rocks
of the crystalline Nigeria basement complex, principally
among which are granites and gneisses. These rocks were
emplaced in Precambrian times and have over time
subjected to tectonic activities characterized by large
changes in temperature and the pressure resulting in
fractures like joints, faults and fractures within the
basement complex rocks. Such fractures are those that
influence the ground water in crystalline rocks especially if
they exist at depth and are over laid by a thick superficial
cover (overburden). Though there is no visible outcrop
seen in the area worked upon, outcrop exists in the
adjoining areas such as Ilorin-Igbeti road. This is clear
index to the fact that on a regional projection such rocks
exist at depth beneath the thick superficial cover that are
predominate in the area. This is of an immense
hydrogeological interest in this investigation (Olayinka et
al, 1998).

3. Geophysical Investigation
For the purpose of this investigation, a total of nine (9)
VES, using the Schlumberger electrode configuration,
were made at different locations within the study area.
DDR1 Resistivity meter equipped with an SAS 2000
booster was used. As much as access allowed on the field,
the maximum current electrode spacing (AB) was 100 m.
The nine sounding locations numbered 1 to 9 are shown in
Figure 2.

ISSN 2049-8373

4. Results
The sounding curves (Figure 3) were evaluated by
partial curve matching method and computer iterations
using WinResist. The curves shown five Geo-Electric
Successions as presented in Tables 1-3. The five layers
consist of a top soil with resistivity ranges between
116-1600 ohm-m and thickness of 0.2-1.0 m followed
by lateritic clay layer of resistivity 180-2000
ohm-m with thickness of 3.3 m-15.0 m. The third
lithologic layer is characterized by highly weathered
basement with resistivity 250-630 ohm-m and
thickness of 6.0 m-30.7 m while the fourth layer
is a fractured with weathered rock of resistivity
100-320 ohm-m and thickness of 20.0 m-40.2 m.
The fresh basement representing the fifth layer has
resistivity of 145-256 ohm-m and thickness from 20.0 m
and above.

5. Discussion
The geophysical investigation of the study area has
revealed five geo-electric units in which the aquifers
occurred in the form of weathered and fractured basement.
However, the results indicate the occurrence of good
aquifers in the first, second, third, fourth and fifth
VES stations shown from their low resistivity values.
But for the rest of VES stations the resistivity values
are so high indicating little or no water present in those
regions.

6. Conclusion
With a mean annual rainfall of 1,250 mm, maximum
temperature of 31 oC and mean annual evapotranspiration
of 1,750 mm (Olasehinde, 1999) adequate climatic
conditions could be said to exist for groundwater recharge
purpose. Also, the occurrence of joints, faults and fractures
in the subsurface are indications of good aquifer in the
study area.
It is advisable that drilling in this area should be done to
the depth of 45 meters to allow large reservoir within the
aquifer

References
Annor, A.E., and Olasehinde, P.I. (1996) Vegetational
Niche as a remote sensor of subsurface aquifer. A
geological- geophysical study in Jere area, central Nigeria.
Journal of NAH, 7(1&2), pp. 26-30.

Figure 2. Sounding Locations

Esan, A. (1999) The Hydrogeology and Hydrochemistry

of Ground Water Source in Ilorin West Central
Nigeria. M.Sc. thesis, University of Ilorin, Nigeria.

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K.O. Ibrahim et al / Journal of Environment (2012), Vol. 01, Issue 01, pp. 21-25

ISSN 2049-8373

Figure 3. 3D Geoelectric Section of Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) Point 01 to 05

Table 1. Geo-Electric Successions

VES 1

VES 2

VES 3

Resistivity
(Ohm-m)

Thickness
(m)

Resistivity
(Ohm-m)

Thickness
(m)

Resistivity
(Ohm-m)

Thickness
(m)

Top Lateritic Soil

1100

0.4

1600

1.0

800

0.7

Lateritic Clay Soil

Weathered Rock
Fractured/Weathered Rock
Fresh Basement

1200
450
170
200

3.7
6.0
30.4
>30.4

2000
250
100
350

5.6
8.7
20.0
>20.0

940
480
130
170

6.9
10.8
40.1
>40.1

Description

Table 2. Geo-Electric Successions

VES 4

VES 5

VES 6

Resistivity
(Ohm-m)

Thickness
(m)

Resistivity
(Ohm-m)

Thickness
(m)

Resistivity
(Ohm-m)

Thickness
(m)

Top Lateritic Soil

1000

1.0

350

0.3

116

0.2

Lateritic Clay Soil

Weathered Rock
Fractured/Weathered Rock
Fresh Basement

800
250
190
350

6.2
10.2
30.8
>30.8

550
630
100
150

15.0
30.1
40.0
>40.0

180
345
195
204

3.3
15.6
20.4
>20.4

Description

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K.O. Ibrahim et al / Journal of Environment (2012), Vol. 01, Issue 01, pp. 21-25

ISSN 2049-8373

Table 3. Geo-Electric Successions

VES 7

VES 8

VES 9

Resistivity
(Ohm-m)

Thickness
(m)

Resistivity
(Ohm-m)

Thickness
(m)

Resistivity
(Ohm-m)

Thickness
(m)

Top lateritic Soil

Lateritic clay Soil

1000
1050

0.9
5.4

230
370

1.0
8.2

300
485

0.8
10.4

Weathered Rock
Fractured/Weathered Rock
Fresh Basement

580
260
145

10.6
40.2
>40.2

400
170
256

20.4
30.9
>30.9

265
320
250

30.7
35.2
>35.2

Description

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of the Perched Aquifer System of Ilorin in West
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