Analysis of Fracture Networks of the Black Volta Catchment in Côte D’ivoire

A good knowledge of fracturing leads to a better exploitation of the groundwater of the areas in crystalline basement. This study area of interests the catchment of Black Volta area in north eastern Côte d’Ivoire. Its aims to characterize the fracture networks of the catchment of Black Volta. Various methods were used notably mapping using satellite image processing, statistical and geostatistical analysis.

The results showed that fracturing of Black Volta area is dense and homogeneous. Statistical analysis of geometric parameter of the fracturing such as fracture lengths and spacing are distributed respectively according to power law and gamma law. The deployment of the fracturing in this area is organized and the experimental variogram is characterized by two nested elementary structures. The practical ranges of these two elementary variograms are respectively 34, 5 km to 60 km. Results indicate that the fracturing of Black Volta area reached a stage of advanced development and is complex. Fracturing of Black Volta area is now well known and the groundwater modeling can be undertaking.