Characterization of a sector of the Salto-Arapey Aquifer System, in Salto, Uruguay, by VES and AMT surveys and geomatics technics

Abstract:

The Salto-Arapey Aquifer System (located in Uruguay) is a mixed system conformed by a detrital aquifer, that lays over a fissured one. The need to improve the knowledge of this system, since the Salto-Arapey Aquifer System is not characterized enough from a hydrogeological point of view, motivates this works. For this, the following objective was proposed: characterize from the geological and geophysical point of view a sector of the Salto-Arapey Aquifer System. The activities carried out included: background research, the application of geomatics technics on a Digital Elevation Model and Landsat image captured during a period of drought, and the application and interpretation of Vertical Electric and Audio-Magnetotelluric Soundings.
The main results are the following: a surface alignment map, a surface rock type map, a geo-electrical characterization of the main formations, and a 3D geologist-geophysical model was conformed to characterize the system.
This work improves the geological and geophysical knowledge of the studied sector. From a social point of view, the products developed will help to identify areas with high potential for productive water wells. The investigation has significant local relevance since it proposes a methodology that can be replicated for the characterization of the rest of the system, or even in an aquifer of similar characteristics.