Aquifer Delineation and Lithologic Characteristics for Ground Water Potential in Hard Rock Terrane of Malwa Plateau, Madhya Pradesh

ABSTRACT An attempt has been made to understand the subsurface lithologic information and to delineate the ground water potential zones in the hard Rock Terrene of Malwa Plateau, Madhya Pradesh, using the Geophysical methods. The area exhibits highly variable groundwater availability. Vertical Electrical soundings (VES) were carried out in the study area at thirty-two locations, in which resistivity values range from 3.7 to 3500 Ωm. The area is characterised by the topsoil followed by weathered basalts, vesicular basalt, fractured basalt, and massive basalts. The entire area is covered by Deccan basalts and forms the major aquifer. In the VES, two main types of aquifers, Aquifer I and II, were identified. The thickness of Aquifer I range from 1.3 to 22.3 m, while Aquifer II varies from 2.7 to 21.5 m. The variation in thickness of these aquifers indicates heterogeneous subsurface conditions, typical of hard-rock terranes where groundwater occurs mainly in weathered and fractured zones. Delineating groundwater potential zones, therefore, provides critical insight into the spatial distribution of these aquifer characteristics, enabling more informed decisions for sustainable groundwater management and long-term development in the study area.