الفهرس 
Chapter 1: IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
The area under investigation lies between latitudes 29º 16’00` N and 28º 46’3`
N and longitudes 31º 15’46` E and 30º 41’6` E. It runs into longitudinal land strip with
an average length of 80 Km and average width of 16.5 Km. It is bounded from south
by El-Minia Governorate, northward by Giza Governorate and lies between El-
Fayoum Governorate from the west and Red Sea Governorate from the east.
The missions of the present study are to investigate the hydrogeochemical
properties of groundwater and their geochemical classification, assign water quality of
the collected Quaternary and Eocene samples for domestic, drinking and irrigation
uses and exploring the aquifer’s configuration by using electrical resistivity
techniques.
The present work divided into five chapters. from discussion of the obtained
results in the present study, the following conclusions can be outlined:
from Geomorphological points of view, the study area includes the
following six units of different distribution patterns, Recent alluvial plains,
Fanglomerates, Old alluvial plains, Calcareous plateaux, Sand dunes and Wadi
(drainage lines) patterns.
Geologically, the lithostratigraphic section of Beni-Suef area consists of rocks
ranging in age from Holocene to Middle Eocene age. The lithologic facies and their
thickness vary either laterally or vertically. A composite lithostratigraphic sequence of
the exposed rock units in Beni-Suef area is compiled. Its characterized by great lateral
and vertical variations in lithology and thickness. Middle Eocene deposits are
dominated and formed of highly fractured and karstified limestones and marls
intercalated with clays and shales. Upper Eocene deposits have a limited distribution.
These deposits are formed of very limited layers of fossiliferous limestone and sandy
limestone with clay intercalations.
The subsurface sequence in Nile Valley in Beni-Suef area is built up of clays
and shales of Pliocene deposits, sands and clays of Plio-Pleistocene deposits, Young
Niolitic of Pleistocene deposits and silt, sands and muds of Holocene deposits.
Nile Valley is affected by several sets of faults. The general direction of dip of
different rock units is toward the north, which is probably due to main fracture line
along the Nile with a NE-SW direction (Gulf of Aqaba trend). There are two other
sets of faults are recognized, faults have the trend of NW-SE (Clysmic trend) and E-w
(Mediterranean trend). Also, the area as a whole is affected by two major anticline
folds. Several surfaces of unconformities either of regional or local extensions are
recognized in the studied area. The regional unconformities occur between
Quaternary deposits and Middle Eocene rocks, between Quaternary deposits and
Pliocene deposits and between Pliocene deposits and Middle Eocene rocks. The local
unconformities occur between Holocene and Quaternary deposits, between the rock
units of Middle Eocene, and between Middle Eocene and Upper Eocene rock units.
Pliocene and Quaternary deposits are exposed and are widely spread along Nile
Valley and the edges of the eastern and western plateaux. They are formed of
conglomerates, sandstones, gravels, sands, silts and muds.
Hydrogeologically, Quaternary and Eocene aquifers are recorded in the study
area. The geometry of Quaternary aquifer is characterized by steep inclination near
the valley slopes with large extension towards the north- south direction. Thickness of
Quaternary aquifer decreased in east and west direction till, it rests unconformably on
the Middle Eocene Limestone. Quaternary aquifer formed mainly of graded sand and
gravel interbedded with clay lenses. While the rock forming Eocene aquifer is
composed of the chalky limestone with chert bands or nodules of the lower part of El
Fashn Formation and the sandstone and sandy limestone of the upper part of Qarara
Formation. Eocene aquifer is recharged mainly by Nile water of irrigation canals in
the western part and by occasional storm rainfall in the eastern part through the
fracture system. Quaternary aquifer is recharged by water from recent Nile water, old
Nile water, runoff and Eocene aquifer
to RIGW (1992), Quaternary aquifer has transmissivity equals
8×103 m2/day, hydraulic conductivity equals 28.75 m/day and the storativity is 4×10-4.
According to El Sayed El Abd (2015), Eocene aquifer has transmissivity
values range from 782.5 m2 / day (in the western part of the study area) to 0.55 m2 /
day (in the eastern part). Eocene aquifer potentiality ranges from medium to very low
potentiality.
According to hydrochemical analyses, the total salinity values of Quaternary
samples range from 421 to 2507 ppm with an average 1464 ppm. While total salinity
values of Eocene samples range from 667 to 2800 ppm with an average 1733.5 ppm.
Isosalinity contour maps of the collected Quaternary and Eocene samples reflect the
increase of salinity in the east and in the west which reflect the impact of leaching
effect on the limestone in east and west portions. While the decrease of salinity in
both aquifers is in the portions near River Nile and it is due to the direct recharge
from it.
Concerning the ion dominance and hydrochemical formula, the dominant
chemical water types of Quaternary samples are NaHCO3, NaCl, Na2SO4 and Ca
(HCO3)2 while the dominant chemical water types of Eocene samples are NaHCO3
and NaCl.
The hypothetical salt combinations of the studied Quaternary and Eocene
samples are classified into six assemblages as follows:
• Assemblage I Ca (HCO3)2 - Mg (HCO3)2 - NaHCO3 - Na2SO4 - NaCl,
This assemblage domain 58% of Quaternary samples and 20% of Eocene
samples.
• Assemblage II Ca (HCO3)2 - Mg (HCO3)2 - MgSO4 - Na2SO4 – NaCl, This
assemblage domain 32% of Quaternary samples and 40% of Eocene samples.
• Assemblage III Ca (HCO3)2 - CaSO4 - MgSO4 - MgCL2 – NaCL, This
assemblage domain 7 % of Quaternary samples.
• Assemblage IV Ca (HCO3)2 - Mg (HCO3)2 - Na2SO4 – NaCl, This
assemblage domain 3 % of Quaternary samples and 10 % of Eocene samples
• Assemblage V Ca (HCO3)2 - Mg (HCO3)2 - MgSO4 - MgCl2 – NaCl, This
assemblage domain 20 % of Eocene samples.
• Assemblage VI Ca (HCO3)2 - MgSo4 - Na2SO4 – NaCl, This assemblage
domain 10% of Eocene samples.
According to Piper’s classification, the collected Quaternary and Eocene
samples in the study area are represented by four categories of groundwater types as
follows:
• Category 1: alkaline earths exceed alkalis, (Ca+2 + Mg+2) > (Na+ + K+), it
represents 26% of Quaternary samples and 30% of Eocene samples.
• Category 2: Alkalis exceed alkaline earths, (Na+ + K+) > (Ca+2 + Mg+2), it
represents 26% of Quaternary samples and 40% of Eocene samples.
• Category 3: Weak acids exceed strong acids, (CO3
-- + HCO3
-) > (SO4
-- + C1-), it
represents 19% of Quaternary samples and 20% of Eocene samples.
• Category 4: Strong acids exceed weak acids, (SO4
-2 + C1-) > (CO3
-2 + HCO3
-), it
represents 29% of Quaternary samples and 10% of Eocene samples.
Based on Durov diagram, the representation of data on Durov diagram
confirms the presence of connected two aquifers, Quaternary aquifer which is
represented by the meteoric water origin and Eocene aquifer which is represented by
the saline water origin. The collected Quaternary and Eocene samples in the study
area are represented by five fields as follows:
• Field No. 4: it represented by 23 % of Quaternary samples and 20 % of
Eocene samples which reflecting ion exchange and dissolution processes.
• Field No. 5: it represented by 39 % of Quaternary samples and 40 % of
Eocene samples which indicates that there is no dominate anion or cation
• Field No. 7: it represented by 3 % of Quaternary samples which has a
meteoric origin and developed due to leaching of evaporates
• Field No. 8: it represented by 32 % of Quaternary samples and 40 % of
Eocene samples where the dominance ion and cation are Cl and Na reflecting
the reverse ion exchange process.
• Field No. 9: it represented by 3 % of Quaternary samples and 20 % of Eocene
samples which indicates that Na and Cl are dominant and the end point water.
to Schoeller’s classification and based on the ion dominance, four
main categories are detected:
• Na+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ / HCO3
- > Cl- > SO4
-, Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+/ HCO3
- > SO4
- >
Cl- , Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+/ HCO3
- > Cl- > SO4
-, Na+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ / HCO3
- >
SO4
- > Cl-, this sequence include 80% of Eocene samples and about 81% of
Quaternary samples and reflects sodium-bicarbonate water type.
• Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+/ Cl- > HCO3
- > SO4
- , Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+/ SO4
- > Cl- >
HCO3
-, and Na+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ / Cl- > HCO3
- > SO4
- . About 20% of Eocene
samples and about 7% of Quaternary samples represent this sequence and
reflect sodium-chloride water type.
• Ca2+ > Na+ > Mg2+/ HCO3
- > SO4
- > Cl-, this sequence include 9% of
Quaternary samples.
• Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+/ SO4
- > Cl- > HCO3
-, this sequence include 3% of
Quaternary samples.
Based on the Grid system method, The Quaternary and Eocene samples are
plotted in the order of:
• Na+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ / HCO3
- > Cl- > SO4
-, this sequence include 23% of
Quaternary samples.
• Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+/ HCO3
- > SO4
- > Cl-, this sequence include 30 % of Eocene
samples and about 26 % of Quaternary samples.
• Ca2+ > Na+ > Mg2+/ HCO3
- > SO4
- > Cl-, this sequence include 10 %
Quaternary samples.
• Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+/ Cl- > HCO3
- > SO4
-, this sequence include 6 % of
Quaternary samples.
• Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+/ HCO3
- > Cl- > SO4
-, this sequence include 30 % of Eocene
samples and about 29 % of Quaternary samples.
• Na+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+/ SO4
- > Cl- > HCO3
-, this sequence include 3 % of
Quaternary samples.
• Na+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ / HCO3
- > SO4
- > Cl- , this sequence include 20 % of
Eocene samples and about 3 % of Quaternary samples.
• Na+ > Mg2+ > Ca2+ / Cl- > HCO3
- > SO4
-, this sequence include 20 % of
Eocene samples.
According to the Egyptian Standards for water (ES, 2007) and World
Health Organization (WHO, 2011); It is clear that the majority of Quaternary
samples (71%) and 20% of Eocene samples are suitable for drinking due to their low
levels of salinity (< 1200 mg/l) and also the major ions are within the permissible
limits.
According (Sawyer and McCarty, 1987), the collected groundwater samples
of Quaternary aquifer are ranged from slightly hard to very hard water, while Eocene
samples are ranged from moderately hard to very hard water. This indicates that all
the collected groundwater samples are unsuitable for domestic uses.
According to salinity index; 74% of Quaternary samples and 20% of Eocene
samples are suitable water for use in irrigation.
According Sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) or sodicity index; 97% of
Quaternary samples and 100% of Eocene samples are excellent to good for irrigation.
According U.S Salinity Laboratory staff Classification (Richards 1954);
the different water samples can be classified into seven classes as follows:
1. Class C3S1: water of high salinity and low sodium hazard. This class includes
45% of Quaternary samples and 50% of Eocene samples.
2. Class C3S2: water of high salinity and medium sodium hazard. This class includes
26% of Quaternary samples and 20% of Eocene samples.
3. Class C3S3: water of high salinity and high sodium hazard. This class includes
10% of Eocene samples.
4. Class C4S1: water of high salinity and low sodium hazard. This class includes 10%
of Quaternary samples.
5. Class C4S2: water of very high salinity and medium sodium hazard. This class
includes 13% of Quaternary samples and 10% of Eocene samples.
6. Class C4S3: water of very high salinity and high sodium hazard .This class
includes 6% of Quaternary samples.
7. Class C4S4: water of very high salinity and high sodium hazard, It is represented
by 10% of Eocene samples. It is unsuitable for irrigation purposes under normal
condition.
Percent sodium (Na %) reflect that 74% of Quaternary samples and 20% of
Eocene samples are considered as suitable for irrigation purposes.
Based on Chloride content; 84 % of Quaternary samples and 50% of Eocene
samples are suitable for irrigation purpose.
Based on Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC); 84% of Quaternary samples
and 90% of Eocene samples are suitable for irrigation purposes.
By using Kelly’s Ratio (KR); 71% of Quaternary samples and 80% of Eocene
samples indicate good quality water for irrigation purpose.
By using Soluble Sodium Percentage (SSP); 52 % of Quaternary samples
and 80% of Eocene samples are safe for irrigation purpose.
According to Magnesium Hazard (MH); 39% of Quaternary samples and
10% of Eocene samples are acceptable water for irrigation uses.
Based on Permeability Index (PI); 93% of Quaternary samples and all the
Eocene samples are suitable water for irrigation purposes.
According to Potential Salinity (PS); 78 % of Quaternary samples and 20 %
of Eocene samples are suitable for irrigation purposes.
The geoelectric measurements are executed on performed thirty
Schlumberger resistivity sounding points which distributed to cover the study area.
Five geoelectric cross sections are constructed in the study area.
from geoelectric cross section A - À : It is running in the South - North
direction at the eastern side of River Nile. First layer exhibits wide range of resistivity
ranging from 260 to 2565 Ohm.m. This layer is composed of loose sand and gravels
that represent the Wadi deposits. The second layer has a resistivity range varies
between 12 and 16 Ohm.m and thickness ranges from 30 to 80 m. It composed of
sand and clay deposits. The third layer has resistivity range varies from 5 to 7 Ohm.m
and thickness ranged between 40 and 160 m. This low resistivity range and the great
thickness can be explained by Pliocene clay deposits .The fourth layer in this cross
section has resistivity range varies from 22 to 24 Ohm.m. The lithologic information
of the two wells in this section indicates presence of marl limestone deposits .
from geoelectric cross section B - B ̀ :It is running in NW – SE direction at
the eastern side of River Nile. First layer of this section characterized by resistivity
range varies from 176 to 2522 Ohm.m and thickness ranged between 5 and 25 m. As
mentioned before, it consists of loose sand and gravels which represent the Wadi
deposits. The second layer exhibit resistivity values vary from 14 to 19 Ohm.m and
thickness ranges from 20 to 100 m. it composed of sandy clay deposits. The third
layer has resistivity range ranges from 8 to 10 Ohm.m and thickness varies from 15 to
150 m. This layer is attributed to Pliocene clay. The fourth geoelectric layer
composed of limestone deposits and characterized by resistivity range varies from 16
to 19 Ohm.m .
from geoelectric cross section C - C ̀ :This geoelectric cross section was
constructed at western side of River Nile. The main purpose of this cross section is
getting a clear idea about the groundwater potentiality on Quaternary aquifer at the
study area .Four geoelectric units were recognized, the first layer has resistivity varies
from 5 to 16 Ohm.m and thickness ranging from 4 to 16 m. This layer is attributed to
silt clay of Neonile deposits. The second layer has a resistivity range varies from 17
and 20 Ohm.m and thickness ranging from 20 to 150 m. It composed also from sandy
clay deposits. The third layer characterized by resistivity range varies from 7 to 8
Ohm.m, and thickness ranges from 40 to 160 m, which reflects Pliocene clay deposits.
The fourth layer represented by marl limestone of Eocene deposits. This layer was
recorded at the western part of the section. It characterized by resistivity range varies
from 22 to 23 Ohm.m.
from geoelectric cross section D-D ̀ : This geoelectric cross section was
constructed at western side of River Nile. Four layers were detected. First layer
exhibits wide range of resistivity ranging from 6 to 17 Ohm.m. This layer is
composed of Nile silt and clay. The second layer has a resistivity range varies
between 17 and 20 Ohm.m and thickness ranges from 10 to 250 m. It composed of
sandy clay deposits. The third layer has resistivity range varies from 7 to 9 Ohm.m
and thickness ranged between 40 and 250 m. This low resistivity range and the great
thickness can be explained by Pliocene clay deposits. The fourth layer in this cross
section represents marly limestone Eocene deposits. It has resistivity range value 22
Ohm.m. The calculated thickness reaches to more than 250 m.
from geoelectric cross section E-E ̀ :This geoelectric cross section was
constructed at western side of River Nile. Four geoelectric units were recognized, the
first layer has resistivity varies from 5 to 18 Ohm.m and thickness ranging from 5 to
20 m. This layer is composed of Nile silt and clay. The second layer has a resistivity
range varies from 17 and 20 Ohm.m and thickness ranging from 20 to 100 m. It
composed also of sandy clay deposits. The third layer characterized by resistivity
range varies from 8 to 9 Ohm.m, and thickness ranges from 140 to 250 m.