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Coincidence of Well Fields and Tectonic Basins in the Precambrian Shield Area of Southeast Botswana
Author(s) -
Dietvorst E.J.L.,
Vries J. J.,
Gieske A.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
groundwater
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.84
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1745-6584
pISSN - 0017-467X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-6584.1991.tb00574.x
Subject(s) - precambrian , geology , lithology , tectonics , structural basin , shield , aquifer , basement , borehole , geomorphology , groundwater , lineament , paleontology , inversion (geology) , geochemistry , petrology , geotechnical engineering , archaeology , history
A compilation of ground‐water exploration data in southeastern Botswana reveals that the occurrence of ground water is not primarily controlled by large‐scale fracture systems and lithologies, but by folds in the Precambrian basement. Two sets of superimposed synforms and antiforms generate a “chess‐board” pattern of dome and basin structures. Successful boreholes and well fields appear to be preferentially situated in the areas where synforms intersect, suggesting that tectonic basins coincide with ground‐water basins. Small‐scale fractures and favorable lithologies doubtless improve the permeability within a ground‐water basin, but appear to be subordinate in determining the distribution of large‐scale aquifer characteristics.