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Groundwater flow in complex hard rock setting using environmental tracers,

Northern Ethiopia

Poster · March 2014

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Ermias Hagos Girmay Tenalem Ayenew

Mekelle University Addis Ababa University
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 Fakultät für Geowissenschaften
Hydrogeologie Institut für Geologie, Mineralogie und Geophysik
Lehrstuhl Angewandte Geologie

Groundwater flow in complex hard rock setting

using environmental tracers, Northern Ethiopia
1,2 2 2 2 1 1
Girmay E. , Ayenew T. , Kebede S. , Alene M. , Wohnlich S. , Wisotzky F.
1 2
Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Hydrogeologie Addis Ababa University, Dept. of Earth Sciences
The study area builds the western shoulder of the Red Sea-Afar Rift at the northern Methodology
verge of the East African Rift System (Fig 1). Semi-arid climate and unimodal rainfall Exhaustive survey of previous geological
knowledge in the study area. And then new
(450-970 mm) characterize the area. It comprises a dissected plateau made of field observations, borehole data, geophysical
data, digital satellite image interpretations and
diverse lithologic formations and tectonic structures ranging in age from visual observations form Google Earth map
have been employed to produce a modified
Neoproterozoic to Quaternary. Due to complexity of the geologic setting, geological (scale 1:50000) and to construct
geological cross sections (vertical
groundwater dynamics and hydrogeochemical setting of the area is meagerly exaggeration 1cm:100m) (Fig 4).
114 water samples has been collected from
understood. Previous studies focus only on investigating local groundwater different sources (25 from deep wells with
depth 90 to 350 mbgl; 36 from shallow wells
resources for immediate domestic water supply based on conventional with depth 45 to 80 mbgl; 6 from hand dug wells
with depth 12 to 18 mbgl; 33 from springs and
14 from river water) have been collected and
hydrogeological techniques. Lowering of groundwater levels, significant decrease of analysed for stable isotopes of oxygen and
hydrogen.
wells discharge and high salinity and hardness of groundwater are the common The water sampling points has been
18 2 systematically located in a way to have
challenges faced in the area. In this study, environmental isotopes (δ O, δ H, Tritium representation from different rock formations in
the stratigraphic column; from recharge and
and EC) coupled with geological expertise have been employed to conceptualize the discharge areas and along expected
groundwater circulation paths; their location
groundwater flow dynamics in the area. A total of 114 water samples (Fig 1) from with respect to different geologic structures
(such as faults and dolerite sills and dykes)
systematically selected points have been analyzed.
Figure 1 Location map and water sampling points

Results and discussion Results and discussion (continued)

20
Five groundwater groups have been identified from the EC-Altitude-Lithology plot
(Fig 3c). G-I represents low EC - high altitude - non carbonate aquifers. G-II samples
a'
15

10

δ18O (‰)
a
b' 5
c'
0
are collected from highly fractured aquifers at lower altitudes of sandstone and
-5 -4

B
-3
b

D
c
-2
d
-1
-5

-10
0 1 2

Shallow wells
3

limestone indicating fast groundwater flow. The difference in EC between G-III and
C

A
-15

-20
Deep wells
River G-IV samples arises from their location with respect to fracture zones and depth of
b δ2 H (‰) -25 circulation of the groundwater. Group III (795 to 1390 µS/cm) samples are localized
a a b
and shallow groundwater flow systems adjacent to fracture zones and therefore
LMWL of AA
3000
I probable lesser residence time. Whereas Group IV samples (1575 to 3500 µS/cm)
18 Limestone, marl,
are collected from locations where the groundwater recharge areas are extensively
Evaporation line
GMWL δ2H = 5.14δ18O + 7.75; R2 = 0.94
15 III shale
Dolerite, limestone
2500 IV
12

9 Sandstone covered with thick shale and marl dominated catchments with patchy gypsum layers
Altitude (masl)

Effect of isotopic exchange

during silicate hydrolysis of 6

3
Effect os isotopic exchange
with carbonate rocks
2000
Tillite, sandstone exposed in nearby outcrops and lithologic logs. The water samples of Group V are
-5
δ18 O ‰

-4 -3 -2 -1
0

-3
0 1 2 3
Basalt, sandstone

Altitude and distance B SBH
effects
-6
A -9
-12
-15
-18
-21 δ2H ‰
c
Figure 2 (a) Enrichment in δ18O values with decrease in altitude; (b) Local meteoric water
line of the study area based solely on isotopic composition of groundwaters; (c) Plot of
δ18O versus δ2H for all water samples collected in this study along side with Craig Line
(Craig 1961) and LMWL of Addis Ababa (Kebede et al. 2012)
Except for some outliers most groundwater samples lie closer to the LMWL of AA
indicating meteoric origin (Fig 2c). The causes for the deviations are supposed to be
altitude and distance effects on the recharging rainfall and isotopic exchanges with
18
shales and carbonates in the sedimentary areas. Enrichment by 0.7‰ δ O in each
100m decrease in elevation has been observed (Fig 2a). The LMWL of the study
area have lower slope than the LMWL of Addis Ababa (Fig 2b) which can be result of
distance effect. The shift to the right of the regression line of summer groundwater
samples (Fig 3a) indicates the significant contribution of evaporated
subsurface/shallow groundwater to wells during the summer. Isotopic compositions
of water samples from different depths at 4 localities helps to differentiate shallower
and deeper flow systems and their interaction with surface waters (Fig 3b).
Basement
collected from the lowland areas (below 1500 masl) towards the west and east of the
DBH 1500 Groundwater
study area. The EC values of the groundwater samples within this group are
SP II
R
V
flow direction
between 967µS/cm and >2000 µS/cm and increases as one goes towards the center
of the Afar depression where salt mining and potash deposits are evident. This
HDW
EC (µS/cm)
Linear (Addis
1000
Ababa rain) 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Linear (Addis
Ababa rain)
c indicates that deep groundwater circulation and higher residence time of
groundwaters are expected towards the center of the Denakil basin.
18 2
Figure 3 (a) Cross plot of δ O versus δ H of summer and winter groundwater samples
with the LMWL of Addis Ababa and GMWL; (b) δ18O versus δ2H plot of water samples The range of tritium activities (1.73 - 3.66TU) in the shallow and deep groundwater
collected at different depths but located in respective close vicinities (A,a,a'; B,b,b';
C,c,c'; D,d); (c) Variability of EC with change in altitude and lithology samples have indicated that modern time recharge is dominant in the aquifers of the
study area.
Conclusions
The highland areas in the northwest, north, east and south of the study area are
recognized as recharge areas while the narrow major river valleys of Giba, Illala,
Chelekot and Faucea Mariam are identified to be discharge areas. Focused
groundwater recharge occurs along the highly fractured and dipping sedimentary
beds adjacent to the major faults of the area.
Three groundwater flow systems (shallow/local, intermediate and deep/semi-
regional) have been established for the area. The shallow groundwater flow is a
subdue replica of the surface water flow directions. The Neoproterozoic basement
terrains, Paleozoic glacial sediments, Mekelle dolerite, basaltic highlands and the
Agula Shale Formation in the area are mainly characterized by localized
groundwater flow systems and unconfined aquifer conditions. Significant part of the
groundwater in these formations is discharged to rivers (in the form of base flow) and
contact springs within the highland plateau and sloppy areas adjacent to narrow
valleys that truncate the plateau.The deeper semi-regional aquifers are within the
lower Antalo Limestone and the Adigrat Sandstone Formation. The groundwater
within these aquifers flows in the SSW direction under confined condition.
Monitoring of groundwater levels, implementation of groundwater recharging
structures and conjunctive use of surface and ground water are recommended.

Figure 4 Conceptual groundwater flow models on the geological map and cross-sections.

References
Craig H (1961) Isotopic variations in meteoric waters. Sci 133:1702–1703. doi:10.1126/science.133.3465.1702 Contact
Kebede S, Travi Y (2012) Origin of the δ18O and δ2H composition of meteoric waters in Ethiopia. Quatern Int 257:4-12 Ermias.Girmay@rub.de
Arkin V, Beyth M, Dow DB, Levitte D, Haile T (1971) Geological Map of Mekele Sheet (ND 37-11). EIGS, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ermiash2010@gmail.com

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