ROLES OF HYDRAULIC PARAMETERS IN DELINEATION OF AQUIFER PROTECTIVE ZONES AND SOIL CORROSIVITY IN KALTUNGO AND ENVIRONS, NORTH-EASTERN, NIGERIA

Abstract

The aquifer protective capacity and corrosivity of near surface materials in Kaltungo and
environs was evaluated using Electrical resistivity method. Thirty-five Vertical Electrical
Soundings (VES) stations were employed using Schlumberger configuration. The result indicates
Five geoelectric layers with varying thicknesses and resistivities. Layers four and five are the
likely aquiferous horizons with resistivities 47.4Sm. The depth to the aquiferous horizon wideranging
between 7.3m-92.0m, and has a rather irregular distribution and thicknesses. Corrosivity,
and longitudinal unit conductance (S) maps were generated from the combination of first and
second order geoelectric parameters. The results indicate that the Kofar Sarki, Baganje and Okra
areas are characterized by poor protective capacity; Karel, Ledeben and Popandi areas are
characterized by weak protective capacity (0.1-0.2 mhos) while other locations investigated are
underlain by materials which could be regarded as moderate (0.2-0.69 mhos) to good (0.7-4.9
mhos) protective capacity. Resistivity values within the first layer (8.0-141.3 Sm) indicate that
this layer is moderately aggressive and may likely form corrosion which may lead to significant
corrosion failures of shallow subsurface installation facilities. The results of this research
highlight certain environmental factors (corrosivity and protective capacity) that should be
considered at the planning stages of residential estates.