Aeromagnetic and Magnetotelluric Studies in Guaribas Region of Parnaiba Basin in North East Brazil for Groundwater Assessment

Aeromagnetic and Magnetotelluric (MT) surveys have been conducted over the intra cratonic sedimentary Parnaiba basin located in the semi-arid northeastern part of Brazil for sub-surface structural mapping and ground water resource investigation. From aeromagnetic data several faults in the sub-surface have been identified that are conducive to be potential groundwater resource regions. Broad band (0.001sec – 1000sec) MT soundings along a profile within the area surveyed aeromagnetically, mapped two localized high conductivity zones (of resistivities <10 Ω-m) representing sedimentary aquifer zones. These zones lie close to the faults identified from the aeromagnetic survey whose top lies at depth of 150m.