| 2008 Joint Meeting of The Geological Society of America, Soil Science Society of America, American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies with the Gulf Coast Section of SEPM | |
| Paper No. 301-28 | |
| Presentation Time: 8:00 AM-6:00 PM | ||
Groundwater Reservoir Types in Fold and Thrust Belts: Quetta Valley, Pakistan | ||
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SAGINTAYEV, Zhanay1, SULTAN, Mohamed1, KHAN, Shuhab2, KHAN, Abdul Salam3, MAHMOOD, Khalid4, BECKER, Richard5, MILEWSKI, Adam1, and WELTON, Benjamin1, (1) Geosciences, Western Michigan University, 1903 W. Michigan Avenue, 1187 Rood Hall, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, zhanay.sagintayev@wmich.edu, (2) Geosciences, University of Houston, 4800 Calhoun Rd, SR1, Rm 312, Houston, TX 77204-5007, (3) Centre of Excellence in Mineralogy, Univ of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan, (4) National Center of Excellence in Mineralogy, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan, (5) Environmental Sciences, University of Toledo, 2801 W. Bancroft, Toledo, OH 43606 The Quetta Valley is a N-S trending tectonic depression within folded and faulted Carboniferous-Jurassic limestone (Shirinab and Chiltan fm), and Tertiary shale (Ghazij fm) and conglomerate (Marap and Urak fm). Four million Pakistanis rely solely on the groundwater of the Quetta valley and surroundings (Lat: 29045'-30020', Long 66050'-67015') of the Balochistan Province for drinking and irrigation. Increasing population, excessive use of groundwater, the arid climate (precipitation: ~ 100 mm/yr) have all contributed to progressive decline in groundwater levels (1989-present: 3m decline/yr). An integrated (remote sensing, geochemistry, field, geophysics, modeling) approach was adopted to identify reservoir types, and to select criteria for locating potential productive well locations. Groundwater samples from various aquifers (e.g., alluvial and carbonate aquifers) and settings (e.g., springs, surface and groundwater) are isotopically similar (dD: -48.1 to -28.9 ‰; dO18: -8.15 to -5.8‰) and are consistent with compositions (dD: -74 to -37‰; dO18: -11 to -6.3‰) of meteoric precipitation over surrounding areas (Ravi River) with similar elevation (1.65 km a.m.s.l.). These results together with the available head data suggest that recharge is largely supplied from surrounding mountains and point to the importance of locating potential wells in bedrock. Criteria for selecting potential well locations in bedrock were facilitated by integrating relevant spatial data sets (Landsat TM, SRTM, SIR-C, geologic maps, cross sections, drainage patterns, structural elements, well locations, and soil maps) in a web-based GIS (http://www.esrs.wmich.edu/groundwater__resources_in_quetta_pakistan.htm). Thirty potential well locations were identified along highly fractured and faulted zones within the Chiltan limestone, a formation commonly exhibiting solution cavities and karstic features. Twelve productive wells were found to suffice these criteria. We also suggest that wells drilled in tectonic depressions reaching the Chiltan limestone might also provide additional groundwater resources. Implications for applying these findings to fold and thrust belts elsewhere are clear. | ||
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2008 Joint Meeting of The Geological Society of America, Soil Science Society of America, American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies with the Gulf Coast Section of SEPM
General Information for this Meeting | ||
| Session No. 301 Hydrogeology (Posters) George R. Brown Convention Center: Exhibit Hall E 8:00 AM-6:00 PM, Wednesday, 8 October 2008 Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 40, No. 6, p. 472 | ||
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