Research articles
Subsurface Geological and Hydrogeological Conditions of the Matale District, Sri Lanka: Inferred from Vertical Electrical Sounding Curves
Authors:
CN Nupearachchi ,
Open University of Sri Lanka, LK
About CN
Ms. C. N. Nupearachchi is currently working as a temporary Demonstrator in the Department of Physics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Open University of Sri Lanka, Nawala. She intends to pursue higher studies in Solid State Physics.
KM Prematilaka,
LK
About KM
Mr. K. M. Prematilaka is the Manager (Studies) at the National Water Supply & Drainage Board, Groundwater Section, Telawala Road, Ratmalana. He is a chief hydrogeologist who has worked for several groundwater projects in Sri Lanka. His research interests are groundwater exploration in hard rock terrains and groundwater modeling.
ANB Attanayake,
LK
About ANB
Dr. A. N. B. Attanayake is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Science & Technology, Uva Wellassa University, Passara Road, Badulla. Dr. Attanayake had been working as a geologist attached to the Geological Survey & Mines Bureau prior to his appointment as a Senior Lecturer. His research interests are remote sensing and GIS applications in earth sciences, fluid-rock interaction modeling and value addition to mineral resources.
GWAR Fernando
Open University of Sri Lanka, LK
About GWAR
Dr. G. W. A. R. Fernando is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Natural Sciences, Open University of Sri Lanka. Dr. Fernando is the Head of the Department of Physics and is also the coordinator of the postgraduate degree programme in Environmental Science at the Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya.
Abstract
The electrical resistivity method which has important applications in mineral resources and groundwater exploration is used to map variations in the electrical properties of the subsurface. The study area, the District of Matale forms a part of the Central Province of Sri Lanka. The major rock types of the area consist of crystalline limestone, garnet-sillimanite gneiss, charnockitic gneiss and quartzite. Fifteen vertical electrical soundings (VES) were carried out in the Matale District using the Schlumberger configuration. Initially, fifteen apparent resistivity field curves were analyzed manually. Subsequently IPI2WIN open source software was used for computational interpretation. The VES points were located mainly in three lithologies; quartzite, crystalline limestone and gneiss. Electrical conductivity of groundwater in the region was found to be uniform and had no significant salinity-based impact on the resistivity variations. The majority of resistivity layers obtained from the VES correlated with the drill logs of same points indicating a considerable degree of relevance for their application as a tool to investigate subsurface geological and hydrogeological conditions.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/ouslj.v6i0.4116
OUSL Journal (2010) Vol. 6, (pp. 91- 102)
How to Cite:
Nupearachchi, C., Prematilaka, K., Attanayake, A. and Fernando, G., 2010. Subsurface Geological and Hydrogeological Conditions of the Matale District, Sri Lanka: Inferred from Vertical Electrical Sounding Curves. OUSL Journal, 6, pp.91–102. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/ouslj.v6i0.4116
Published on
25 Feb 2010.
Peer Reviewed
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