Bedrock topography from magnetic anomalie—An aid for groundwater exploration in hard‐rock terrains

Abstract

The role of the magnetic method in groundwater exploration is to locate structures such as dikes, faults, fractures, etc., that control the accumulation and movement of groundwater. In hard‐rock terrains, the thickness of the weathered layer is an important parameter that determines the quantity of groundwater accumulated in the unconfined aquifer above the basement. The basement rock, in the process of weathering, loses its magnetic properties and becomes much less magnetic. Therefore, the magnetic response is mostly due to the unweathered hard basement rock, and the depths of magnetic sources obtained from the analysis give us the top of the basement. Information about the thickness of the weathered layer would help in assessing the groundwater potential of the region.