Petrographic Texture of Sediments Vis-A-Vis Aquifer Characteristics from WGAMG′0 Watershed, Chandrapur District, Maharashtra, India

The present study deciphers the interrelationship between petrography and texture of sediments with aquifer characteristics. Sandstones representing the aquifers around Minjhari-Murpar village (lat. 20°34′05″N: long. 79°18′05″E), Chimur Tahsil, Chandrapur district, Maharashtra, India corresponding to the watershed WGAMG′ have been selected for the study. These sandstones are grouped as arenites and wackes to unravel the aquifer distinctiveness. The values of transmissivity from 102.28 to 450.42 m²/day, and for wackes from 58 to 165.59 m²/day. The values of specific yield (storativity) for arenites range from 20% to 35% and for wackes from 10% to 17%. The computed values of transmissivity as well as specific yield are attributed to the petrographic texture of the rocks. It is propounded that the percentage of detrital grains and matrix is the prime factor that governs the characteristic of aquifers. In addition, it is also found that the sorting of rocks also influences the aquifer performance. The high values of transmissivity and specific yield in arenite aquifer are accountable for higher percentage of detrital grains, lesser amount of matrix and moderate sorting of the grains. Conversely, the lower percentage of detrital grains, higher amount of matrix and poor sorting of the grains are responsible for low values of transmissivity and specific yield in the wacke aquifer.