Karstification, Tectonics and Land Use in the Lusaka Region

Report of the project:

• Sambia – Grundwasserressourcen für Lusaka und ausgewählte Einzugsgebiete (Phase III)
• Zambia - Groundwater Resources Management Support Programme (GReSP)

Figure 1: Location of the working area in Zambia marked by yellow frame. SPOT bands 1,2,3 (RGB) Source: BGR

The project was conducted within the bilateral technical cooperation between BGR and the Zambian partner of the Department of Water Affairs (DWA).

Questions concerning groundwater quality and its vulnerability to pollution demand detailed information of geology, karst dimensions, possible water flow paths and aquifers as well as the specific delineation of different land use. Existing maps do not meet these requirements.

The use of multispectral satellite images and fieldwork supplied solutions for these questions, with the following results obtained:

• Fault mapping for additional information of groundwater flow paths,
• Deliniation and measurement of different dimensions of karst features,
• Land use classification with resulting land use map
• Verification and improvement of existing geological information

Figure 2: Location of the working area in Zambia in SRTM DEM with colour-coded altitudes Source: BGR

see more

HAHNE, K. & SHAMBOKO-MBALE, B. (2010): Karstification, Tectonics and Land Use in the Lusaka Region. - Report No 3 prepared by Department of Water Affairs (DWA), Zambia & Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Germany; 76 p., 79 fig.; Lusaka. (PDF, 17 MB)

HAHNE, K., SHAMBOKO-MBALE, B. & BÄUMLE, R. (2011): Land Use Map of Lusaka and Surroundings, scale 1:200,000. Map prepared by Department of Water Affairs (DWA), Zambia & Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Germany; Lusaka. (PDF, 2 MB)

Literature:

KANG'OMBA, S. & BÄUMLE, R. (eds.) (2013): Development of a Groundwater Information & Management Program for the Lusaka Groundwater Systems - Key Recommendations and Findings. Final Report prepared by Department of Water Affairs (DWA), Zambia & Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR), Germany; 77 p., 26 fig., 9 tab.; Lusaka. (PDF, 26 MB)

NKHUWA D. C. W.. 1996: Hydrogeological and engineering geological problems of urban development over karstified marble in Lusaka, Zambia. – Mitteilungen zur Ingenieur- und Hydrogeologie 63, 251 pages; Aachen.

PORADA, H. AND BERHORST, V., 2000: Towards a new understanding of the Neoproterocoic-Early Palaeocoic Lufilian and northern Zambezi Belts in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. – J. of African Earth Sciences 30/3: S. 727-771, Elsevier Science Ltd.

SIMPSON J. G., 1962: The geology of the Mwembeshi River area.- Report of the Geological Survey No. 11, Explanation of degree sheet 1527, NE quarter, Northern Rhodesia Ministry of Labour and Mines; 29 pages; Government Printer, Lusaka.

SIMPSON J. G., DRYSDALL A. R. & H. H. J. LAMBERT, 1963: The geology and groundwater resources of the Lusaka area.– Report of the Geological Survey No. 16, Explanation of degree sheet 1528, NW. quarter; Northern Rhodesia Ministry of Labour and Mines; 59 pages; Government Printer, Lusaka.