Geophysical assessment of open dumpsite nearby Khamis Mushait industrial zone, Southwestern Saudi Arabia

Vertical electrical soundings, seismic refraction tomography, and ground magnetic measurements were taken or conducted close to an open dumpsite near Khamis Mushait, southwestern Saudi Arabia, which is characterized by shallow groundwater conditions. Structurally, intersected series of north- to nor...

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Main Authors: Ali Y. Kahal, Kamal Abdelrahman, Hussain J. Alfaifi, Saleh Qaysi, Ahmed Nasser Aldossari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2021-09-01
Series:Journal of King Saud University: Science
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1018364721001798
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author Ali Y. Kahal
Kamal Abdelrahman
Hussain J. Alfaifi
Saleh Qaysi
Ahmed Nasser Aldossari
author_facet Ali Y. Kahal
Kamal Abdelrahman
Hussain J. Alfaifi
Saleh Qaysi
Ahmed Nasser Aldossari
author_sort Ali Y. Kahal
collection DOAJ
description Vertical electrical soundings, seismic refraction tomography, and ground magnetic measurements were taken or conducted close to an open dumpsite near Khamis Mushait, southwestern Saudi Arabia, which is characterized by shallow groundwater conditions. Structurally, intersected series of north- to northwest-trending faults affect the area. A new urban expansion and the Khamis Mushait industrial zone are close to the open dumpsite. This study evaluates the potential for leachate intrusion into groundwater aquifers. The results of electrical soundings reveal four geoelectric units: the topsoil, weathered layer, partly weathered/fractured basement, and fresh basement bedrock. At the dumpsite, relatively low resistivity values that are less than 30 Ωm characterize the topsoil, weathered layer, and partly weathered/fractured basement because of conductive leachate from the dumpsite. Besides, the results of ground magnetic data indicate that the deformation of varying intensities affects the dumpsite area, resulting in fractures developing in the N–S, NE–SW, NW–SE, and, to a lesser extent, E–W directions. Moreover, geoseismic tomographic models illustrate a low P-wave velocity zone corresponding to a low resistivity zone, and a NE–SW fault was identified from geoseismic cross-sections. Finally, these fractures and faults could become contaminant pathways for shallow aquifers around the dumpsite. To minimize the impact of such leachate, from a dumpsite, on groundwater quality and the environment in general, the dumpsite must be properly designed, constructed, and managed using engineering principles.
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spelling doaj.art-2a61e484bb0e4e4db0dd4991532b16fa2022-12-21T18:50:59ZengElsevierJournal of King Saud University: Science1018-36472021-09-01336101518Geophysical assessment of open dumpsite nearby Khamis Mushait industrial zone, Southwestern Saudi ArabiaAli Y. Kahal0Kamal Abdelrahman1Hussain J. Alfaifi2Saleh Qaysi3Ahmed Nasser Aldossari4Department of Geology and Geophysics, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Geology and Geophysics, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; Seismology Department, National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics, EL Marsad Street 1, Helwan, Cairo, EgyptDepartment of Geology and Geophysics, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Geology and Geophysics, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Geology and Geophysics, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; Corresponding author.Vertical electrical soundings, seismic refraction tomography, and ground magnetic measurements were taken or conducted close to an open dumpsite near Khamis Mushait, southwestern Saudi Arabia, which is characterized by shallow groundwater conditions. Structurally, intersected series of north- to northwest-trending faults affect the area. A new urban expansion and the Khamis Mushait industrial zone are close to the open dumpsite. This study evaluates the potential for leachate intrusion into groundwater aquifers. The results of electrical soundings reveal four geoelectric units: the topsoil, weathered layer, partly weathered/fractured basement, and fresh basement bedrock. At the dumpsite, relatively low resistivity values that are less than 30 Ωm characterize the topsoil, weathered layer, and partly weathered/fractured basement because of conductive leachate from the dumpsite. Besides, the results of ground magnetic data indicate that the deformation of varying intensities affects the dumpsite area, resulting in fractures developing in the N–S, NE–SW, NW–SE, and, to a lesser extent, E–W directions. Moreover, geoseismic tomographic models illustrate a low P-wave velocity zone corresponding to a low resistivity zone, and a NE–SW fault was identified from geoseismic cross-sections. Finally, these fractures and faults could become contaminant pathways for shallow aquifers around the dumpsite. To minimize the impact of such leachate, from a dumpsite, on groundwater quality and the environment in general, the dumpsite must be properly designed, constructed, and managed using engineering principles.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1018364721001798Seismic tomographyVertical electrical sounding (VES)MagneticKhamis MushaitSaudi Arabia
spellingShingle Ali Y. Kahal
Kamal Abdelrahman
Hussain J. Alfaifi
Saleh Qaysi
Ahmed Nasser Aldossari
Geophysical assessment of open dumpsite nearby Khamis Mushait industrial zone, Southwestern Saudi Arabia
Journal of King Saud University: Science
Seismic tomography
Vertical electrical sounding (VES)
Magnetic
Khamis Mushait
Saudi Arabia
title Geophysical assessment of open dumpsite nearby Khamis Mushait industrial zone, Southwestern Saudi Arabia
title_full Geophysical assessment of open dumpsite nearby Khamis Mushait industrial zone, Southwestern Saudi Arabia
title_fullStr Geophysical assessment of open dumpsite nearby Khamis Mushait industrial zone, Southwestern Saudi Arabia
title_full_unstemmed Geophysical assessment of open dumpsite nearby Khamis Mushait industrial zone, Southwestern Saudi Arabia
title_short Geophysical assessment of open dumpsite nearby Khamis Mushait industrial zone, Southwestern Saudi Arabia
title_sort geophysical assessment of open dumpsite nearby khamis mushait industrial zone southwestern saudi arabia
topic Seismic tomography
Vertical electrical sounding (VES)
Magnetic
Khamis Mushait
Saudi Arabia
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1018364721001798
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