NDLI: The relationship between regional stress field, fracture orientation and depth of weathering and implications for groundwater prospecting in crystalline rocks

Content Provider	Springer Nature Link
Author	Owen, Richard Maziti, Abel Dahlin, Torleif
Copyright Year	2007
Abstract	In a uniform granite gneiss study area in central Zimbabwe, lineaments oriented parallel to the maximum regional compressive stress orientation exhibit the thickest regolith development, while lineaments oriented perpendicular to the maximum compressive stress show the shallowest development of weathered regolith. The principal fracture set orientations were mapped using aerial imagery. The regional stress field, estimated from global stress maps, was used to determine the stresses acting on each principal lineament orientation. Multi-electrode resistivity profiling was carried out across fractures with different orientations to determine their subsurface regolith conditions. The results indicate that the 360 and 060° lineaments, which are sub-parallel to the principal compressive stress orientation (σ$_{1}$) exhibit maximum development of the regolith, while 130° lineaments perpendicular to σ$_{1}$ do not exhibit significant regolith development. Since regolith thickness has been positively correlated with groundwater resources, it is suggested that fractures with orientations sub-parallel to the principal compressive stress direction constitute favourable groundwater targets. Knowledge of the regional stress field and fracture set orientations can be used as an effective low cost tool for locating potentially higher yielding boreholes in crystalline rock terrains.Dans un gneiss granitique uniforme au centre du Zimbabwe composant la zone d’étude, les linéaments orientés parallèlement à la contrainte de compression régionale maximum exhibent les régolithes les plus épais, tandis que les linéaments orientés perpendiculairement à la contrainte de compression maximum montrent les régolithes altérés les moins profonds. Les orientations des principaux jeux de fractures ont été cartographiées par image satellite. Le champ de contraintes régional, estimé à partir de cartes de contraintes globales, a été utilisé pour déterminer les contraintes agissant sur l’orientation principale de chaque linéament. Des profils de résistivité multi-électrodes ont été réalisés au travers de fractures de différentes orientations pour déterminer les conditions de subsurface des régolithes. Les résultats indiquent que les linéaments à 360 et 060°, qui sont sub-parallèles à l’orientation de la contrainte de compression principale (σ$_{1}$), exhibent les régolithes aux développements les plus importants, tandis que les linéaments à 130° perpendiculaires à σ$_{1}$ n’exhibent pas de régolithes à développement particulier. Dés lors que l’épaisseur des régolithes a été positivement corrélée avec les ressources en eaux souterraines, il est probable que les fractures orientées sub-parallèlement à la direction de la contrainte principale de compression représentent des cibles favorables pour la recherche d’eau souterraine. La connaissance du champ de contraintes régional et de l’orientation des jeux de fractures peut être utilisée comme un outil peu coûteux permettant d’implanter, dans des terrains de roches cristallines, des forages à rendements potentiellement plus élevés.En un área de estudio compuesta por neis granítico uniforme, en Zimbabwe central, los lineamientos orientados paralelos al esfuerzo compresivo regional máximo muestran el desarrollo de un regolito más espeso, mientras en los lineamientos orientados en dirección perpendicular al esfuerzo compresivo máximo, el desarrollo del regolito meteorizado es menos profundo. La orientación del conjunto de las fracturas principales se trazó usando imágenes aéreas. El campo de esfuerzos regionales, estimado a partir de los mapas de esfuerzos globales, fue usado para determinar las fuerzas que actuaron en cada orientación de lineamentos principales. Se llevó a cabo perfilaje de resistividad multi-electródica, a través de las fracturas con orientaciones diferentes, para determinar las condiciones de su regolito sub-superficial. Los resultados indican que los lineamientos de 360 y 060° que son sub-paralelos a la orientación del esfuerzo compresivo principal (σ$_{1}$), poseen un desarrollo máximo del regolito, mientras que los lineamientos de 130°, perpendiculares a σ$_{1,}$ no muestran un desarrollo significativo del regolito. Puesto que el espesor del regolito ha sido relacionado positivamente con los recursos de agua subterránea, se sugiere que las fracturas con orientaciones sub-paralelas a la dirección de esfuerzos compresiva principal, constituyen objetivos favorables para el agua subterránea. El conocimiento del campo de esfuerzos regionales y las orientaciones de los conjuntos de fracturas, pueden usarse como una herramienta eficaz de costo bajo, para localizar perforaciones que potencialmente pueden ser altamente productivas en terrenos de rocas cristalinas.
Starting Page	1231
Ending Page	1238
Page Count	8
File Format	PDF
ISSN	14312174
Journal	Hydrogeology Journal
Volume Number	15
Issue Number	7
e-ISSN	14350157
Language	English
Publisher	Springer-Verlag
Publisher Date	2007-09-22
Publisher Institution	International Association of Hydrogeologists
Publisher Place	Berlin, Heidelberg
Access Restriction	One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
Subject Keyword	Zimbabwe Groundwater exploration Fractured rocks Stress field Depth of weathering Waste Water Technology Water Pollution Control Water Management Aquatic Pollution Geology Hydrogeology
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Earth and Planetary Sciences Water Science and Technology

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