An integrated gravity and remote sensing assessment of ground-water resources in central Chihuahua, Mexico

The City of Chihuahua is located in the central portion of the state of Chihuahua in northwestern Mexico. The water resources in this semi-arid region are scarce and the city is experiencing difficulty meeting its water needs. Most of its water comes from nearby basins whose structure is poorly known, other than the recognition that the area is located in the Basin and Range Province. For this study 1,000 gravity stations distributed over an area of 1,200 km 2 provided a Bouguer gravity anomaly map of portions of three basins. Satellite imagery confirmed and defined the local geology and provided a base map for the interpretation of the Bouguer anomalies. Gravity data and a compilation of drill hole and geologic data were used to construct two gravity models of the basins. These integrated structural models reveal grabens filled with Cenozoic sediments with maximum depths in the range of 1,500 to 3,000 m. Some gravity lows indicate possible deep basins obscured by igneous cover. These results suggest the basins may contain aquifers capable of providing additional potable water for the growing population