HYDROGEOLOGY AND HYDROLOGICAL STUDIES IN HALAlB-SHALATIN AREA, EGYPT,USING REMOTE SENSING TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER TECHNIQUES

Abstract

Halaib-Shalatin present study area is located at the southeastern corner of Egypt between longitudes 34° 30'-37° 00' E and latitudes 22° 00'- 23° 30' N. The aim of work is to evaluate and illustrate the hydrogeologic and hydrologic aspects of the area using remote sensing technique and other tools. The rock units present in the area arc the Precambrian basement rocks, the Cretaceous sedimentary rocks, Miocene rocks, and Quaternary deposits, hence, there are four main aquifers to be discussed. These aquifers arc• quaternary aquifer, Miocene carbonate aquifer, Nubia Sandstone .aquifer, and fractured basement aquifer. Structural clements, especially, faults, fractures and dykes, arc dominant and play an important and essential role for groundwater occurrences and behavior. A combined map illustrates the relationship between rock types and infiltration capabilities shows that the older basement rocks represented by gneisses and migmatites, older granitoidc group, gabro diorite group and metasediments rocks favor a good suitable environment to host groundwater bodies. These rocks arc characterized by high fractu;•ing, high infiltration capacity and mostly traced by dykes in different trends. Most of the water points in the study area occurred in these rock types. Moreover, the area was .classified into different geomorphologic units and a special care was given to the drainage basins, where their nlorphomctrie parameters were calculated to assess the groundwater recharging possibilities of these basins and a special attention was given to Wadi Hodcin. This basin occupies most of the study area and a water controlling system for the sake of water harvesting was proposed. Also the runoff I infiltration relationship of different wadis was discussed. A map for the potential hydrogeological units for water points was constructed. This map comprising the available data revealed from the existing water points in terms of aquifer types, hydraulic water level, well depth, salinity and abstraction. Also a special focussing was given for the promising highly prized Nubian aquifer located in the upstream portion of Wadi 1-Jodein. This aquif'cr was pendrated up to 90m. depth witln1 screened thickness ranging Jiom 35m. to 40m. in Umm l3armil and Timsah Formations. Hs static water level is ranging from 7. I 1m: to I 9.90m, while the hydraulic conductivity (K) ranged from (J.(l75 m./day to 2.04m./day. llydrogcoclcct.rie investigations were pcrf(mucd f(>r three mai11 Wadis: Abu Salim, !bib and Scrimtai. The existed and the possible aquif'crs were determined and saltwater int111sion was detected. Local geological structures that have their effect on groundwater selling were delineated. Also Suitable sites for drilling were recommended.