Hydrogeology in the Service of Man, Mémoires of the 18th Congress of.

the
International Association of Hydrogeologists, Cambridge, 1985.

REEVALUATION OF HYDROGEOLOGICAL AND HYDROCHEMICAL

ASPECTS FOR NUBIAN AQUIFER IN SUDAN

H.H. ELKADI1 and M.E. ABD ELSHAFI

Faculty of Earth Sciences, King Abdulaziz University,

Jedda, Saudi Arabia
2
Rural Water Corporation, Sudan

ABSTRACT

The combinations of geomorphological features,

hydrogeological aspects and hydrochemical analysis for
Buram area in Sudan can be assumed as an attempt to
evaluate adequately the groundwater potentiality for
future reclamation developments. Three saturated for-
mations have been recognized in the area of study. These
are the Alluvium, Umm Ruwaba and Nubian aquifers. A
regional groundwater flow pattern has been deduced,
indicating the main distinguished flow directions.
It has been confirmed that the groundwater potentia-
lity of the Nubian aquifer is relatively higher than
that of Umm Ruwaba one, and that its groundwater
quality is fairly fresh, while that of Umm Ruwaba may
be relatively saline. The Nubian sandstone aquifer
can be considered as the most important one in the
area of study and is, therefore, suitable for agricul-
tural projects.

INTRODUCTION
Buram area is situated in southern and northern Darfur provinces
in the west of Sudan. It lies between latitudes 9° 00*and 14° 00'
North, and longitudes 23° 00'and 26° 00''East (Fig.l). The area
of study (about 180,000 km2) represents a watershed region of
the minor drainage pattern, that floods seasonally during rainy
periods to the Bahr SI Arab, which is a part of the River:.Nile
system.
The climate in Sudan is, generally, tropical. The mean annual
temperature is about 2?°C. To the North, dry wind is predominant
during the winter season, while in the South, wind carrying humid
air characterizes the autumn season. The mean wind velocity is
usually less than 8 km/hr and the mean relative humidity ranges
between 20% in the dry season and 75% during the rainy one. Eva-
poration decreases gradually southwards from Nyala to Buram
districts. This may be due to the lower solar radiation, longer
rainfall and storm durations.

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 2V 32
-,R^-
°* A.RXGYPT '
LIBYA
1-20 \ .

Fig. 1. Location map w i t h rainfall

contours

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 The purpose of this research is to combine the geological,
hydrogeological and hydrochemical investigations to evaluate the
groundwater potentialities in the area of study for land
reclamation developments.

GEOLOGY AND GEOMORPHOLOGY

The geological succession and geomorphological features (Fig.2)
have been previously investigated (Khairalla, 1966-; Hunting, 1970
and Whlteman, 1971).

Six rock units have been geologically recognized in the area

of study. These can be stratlgraphically described as;
The Basement Complex (granite, gneiss and schist) is highly
affected by a vast tectonical and expressive metamorphosis of
regional character. It has been intruded by younger quartzitic
and granitic dykes (Pre-Cambrian to Cambrian).
The Nubian Formation rests unconformably on the Pre-Cambrian
crystalline rocks. It crops out at the northern margin of Buram
basin and is overlain by Umm Ruwaba Formation in its central
part. This formation is composed of sandstone, mudstone and
conglomerates of Cretaceous age. Its sediments were deposited
down on a topographic gradient running to the northeast direction.
This is supported by the grain size variation in that direction.
The average thickness of the Nubian Formation is about 400m but
it may reach more than 4000m in the eastern region of the area.
Volcanic lavas (M.Tertiary) consist mainly of hard dark grey
basalt, basaltic tuffs and volcanic ashes, which cover most of
the previously mentioned formations.
Latérite unit (Ironstone) is a hydrated ferric oxide with
aluminium, silica and manganese constituents with high percentage
of quartz mineral (M. Tertiary).
The deposition of Umm Ruwaba Formation (Pliocene to Pleistocene)
and superficial deposits (Pleistocene to Recent) were laid down,
forming a virtually continuous mantle unconformably over the Nubian
Formation and older rocks prevailing in the area. The Umm Ruwaba
Formation attains great thickness (400m) in the topographic
depression and troughs, while the superficial deposits are about
30m.

From the geomorphological point of view, the district under

study could be divided into three main physiographic units, which
are high-land, table-land and low-land areas;
The high-land area consists of two major hills. The northern
one is a huge elongated type, extending in a north-south direction
for about 150km and is composed mainly of gneiss and granitic
rocks, which are overlain by volcanic flows. The southern hill,
running in the northeast-southwest direction, demarcates the watershed
region between the Nile Basin and the drainage system to lake Chad.
The table-land region represents the major part of the study
area, where the land is almost peneplained. It is generally
covered by alluvial deposits. The elevation of this unit ranges
from 660m above sea level near Nyala in the North to about 530m
in the central part. The ground surface slopes gently in a
northeast direction.

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 V Volcanic R.
UR Umm Ruaba
NF Nubian E
BC Basement C.
25 261

Fig. 2. Geological - Geomorphological

drainage network map

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 The low-land area is located within the major streams and their
deltas. It consists mainly of alluvial silts and fine materials,
which are represented in the southern part. The elevation ranges
between 530m and 450m above sea level with gentle slope towards
the east-southeast.
The drainage network of the northern pediment in the area of
study (Fig. 2) is distinctive. The predominant type of this
system is generally dendritic in form. This drainage system
displays several variations in channel length, shape and density.
These are geomorphologicaly controlled by lithology and tectonics
prevailing there.
Measurements of the drainage pattern were carried out there
and are quantitatively interpreted to elucidate the status
concerning the texture of the area under investigations. The
drainage density of this pattern seems to be low. This is due
to the upstream resistant volcanic and crystalline rock units
and to the highly permeable subsoil sediments in the middle part
of the area.

HYDROGEOLOGICAL ASPECTS
The evaluation of groundwater bearing formations depends upon
their hydraulic characteristics. Pumping tests were carried out
in the area of study in order to determine these needed hydraulic
parameters (Todd, 1959). A regional groundwater flow pattern map
has to be also deduced.
On the basis of the drilled water wells, located in the area
under consideration, different water-bearing formations have
been recognized. These are, mainly, the Nubian, Umm Ruwaba and
Wadi Alluvium deposits.
Nubian sandstone has been considered to be the most important
water-bearing formation in that area. The maximum thickness of
this aquifer is about 500m. The facies type is mainly medium to
very coarse and well-sorted sands and gravels. Groundwater in
this formation exists under unconfined condition.
Sediments of Umm Ruwaba aquifer are of fine to medium and
poorly-sorted type. The depth to groundwater table (unconfined)
ranges between 75m and 100m from the ground surface. The maximum
saturated thickness is about 350m. This thickness increases
gradually to the eastern direction.
The type of Alluvium aquifer is also unconfined and consists
mainly of detrital alluvial materials. The depth to the water
table is shallow, ranging between 3 and 35m below the ground
surface.
Pumping test data were collected for the Nubian aquifer and
analysed by Cooper-Jacob method (1946) . The transmissibility
values of this aquifer has been found to range from 0.76 to
508 m2/day and the specific capacities range between 0.03 and
16.9 m3/h/m. This means that the groundwater potentiality for
this aquifer can be considered as fairly good.
A regional groundwater flow pattern has been deduced from
water table values of the Nubian Sandstone aquifer (Fig. 3) and
three main flow directions can be easily distinguished. The
first flow is to the south-eastward direction. The recharge

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B. C.

i. 500 m
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JiT* © ©
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•BURAM-—-1
480
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Scale 1 : 2 0 0 0 000
24

Fig. 3. Ground water f l o w pattern

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area is Nyala province in the North. The second direction
starts in the southern part, flowing to the north and
north-eastward provinces. This is mainly due to the recharge
from Bahr El Arab branch in the South. The third direction is
from the western to the eastern regions.

HYDROCHEMICAL ANALYSIS
The study of water chemistry has been made, to determine the
quality of groundwater within Nubian aquifer, which is of great
interest for human consumption in the area. Figures 4 and 5 show
the graphical illustration of the chemical analysis for twenty
water samples. These have been chosen as adequate representation
of the groundwater types met with in the Nubian aquifer.
The hydrochemical data were plotted on Piper (1953) trilinear
diagram (Fig. 4 ) , to illustrate the classification according
to the chemical water types. The major cations, which are
dominant in that groundwater are both calcium and magnesium.
In some water wells, the sodium and potasium ions are more or
less dominant compared with other major cations. It may be
noticed from this diagram, that the groundwater supplies
are of bicarbonate and carbonate types. This indicates that
the water is fairly fresh and that it has not a long flow dis-
tance within the aquifer. The carbonate/bicarbonate ion concen-
tration is about 80%, ranging from 67% to 93%.
The other method, which was used in this study, is to
determine the chemical water type by plotting the data on the
well-known Durov diagram (Fig. 5). This diagram was
developed in 1948 and modified by Chillingar in 1956. It can
be concluded from the diagram, that the water samples of the
Nubian aquifer belong to the bicarbonate group with significant
amounts of magnesium and sodium cations. The sodium content
may be attributed to the presence of clay and shale intercalations
within the sandstone layers. This is due to a release of sodium
and potasium ions from the argilaceous materials through the
ion-exchange process between the formation waters and clay
minerals. The dominant ion concentrations of Na & HCO3 with respect
to the significant amount of Ca & Mg are well-indicated.
In 1954, the U.S. Salinity Laboratory Staff made a classifica-
tion of the suitability of water for irrigation procedures,
based on the sodium-adsorption-ratio (SAR). According to this
classification and from the calculated SAR values, it can be
concluded that the groundwater of the Nubian aquifer is suitable
for agricultural purposes.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

The geological succession within the area of study is classi-
fied, mainly from bottom to top, in six rock units. These are
the crystalline Basement Complex, the Nubian Formation, Latérites,
Volcanic, Umm Ruwaba Formation and the superficial deposits.
The detected water-saturated formations met with are only the
superficial (Alluvium) deposits, Umm Ruwaba and Nubian formations.
The area had been subjected to a regional warping and erosion
processes, associated with an uplift of the continental divide
within Middle Tertiary.

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Fig. A. Piper trilinear diagram

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Fig. 5. Durov's modified diagram

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 The potentiality of the Nubian aquifer is very high, especia-
lly , when it lies under regional water-table condition. Its
sediments are fairly homogeneous sands and gravels, while that
of Umm Ruwaba aquifer are intercalated with clay minerals.
The groundwater potentiality of the latter aquifer is relatively
less than that of Nubian one due to the predominant constituents
of clay and silts.
It has been noticed that the water salinity within the Nubian
sandstone aquifer increases gradually with depth. The major
cations, which are dominant in it are both calcium and magnesium
ions and the water is of bicarbonate and carbonate type (fresh).
Significant amount of sodium ion content may be attributed to
an ion-exchange process with clay minerals. According to the
U.S. Department of agriculture classification and to the calculated
sodium-adsorption-ratio, the groundwater of the Nubian sandstone
aquifer can be estimated as suitable for agricultural purposes.
It is recommended here, that this type of research might be
further more extended to the whole territories in Sudan Republic.
This should include water balance computation, hydrochemical
studies with special emphasis to trace elements and environmental
isotope investigations. That will be of high scientific and
economic values for wide land reclamation developments.

REFERENCES
.Chilingar , G.V. 1956. Durovs classification of natural water
and chemical composition of atmospheric precipitation in U.S.S.R.,
Trans. Am. Geoph. U., 37, 193-196.
.Cooper, H.H., and Jacob, C.E. 1946. A generalized graphical
method for evaluating formation constants and summarizing well
field history, Trans. Am. Geoph. Union, 27, 526-534.
.Durov, S.A. 1948. Classification of natural waters and graphic
representation of their composition, Doklady Akad. Nauk.,
U.S.S.R., 59, 1, 37-90.
.Hunting, Geology and Geophysics Ltd. 1970. Water survey and
development project in Darfur province, Regional Hydrogeological
Survey, 4, 62.
.Khairalla, M.K. 1966. A study of Nubian sandstone formation of the
Nile Valley between 11° and 17°N with reference to the ground-
water geology, M.Sc. thesis, Khartum University.
.Piper, A.M. 1953. A graphic procedure in the geochemical inter-
pretation of water analysis, Trans. Am. Geoph. U., 25, 914-923.
.Todd, D.K. 1959. Groundwater Hydrology, John Wylie Inc., New York.
.U.S. Salinity Laboratory Staff 1954. Diagnosis and improvement
of saline and alkaline soil, U.S. Department Agriculture Handbook,
60, 160.
.Whiteman, A.J. 1971. The geology of the Sudan Republic, Clarendon
Press, London, 290.

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