Three-dimensional model and environmental fragility in the Guarani Aquifer system, SE-Brazil

Abstract

The Guarani Aquifer System (GAS) is a vast transboundary continental sedimentary basin in southern South America, encompassing sedimentary rocks and basalt flows across Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil. It serves as a crucial water resource for urban supply and irrigation. This study aims to propose geophysical, geometric, and fragility models of the GAS in a critical exploitation area, utilizing geological data, geophysical logs, geomorphometry, and information from tubular wells. The models define distinct geophysical ranges for each formation and identify contacts between sedimentary and basaltic rocks. Integration of horizontal and vertical spatial distributions of geophysical and geological data forms a 3D model, revealing basaltic flows and intrusions distribution in fragile areas between formations, and potentially connecting aquifer layers. Natural fragility zones, characterized by high fracture densities, are observed in the central-east region, while outcrop and recharge areas of the main aquifer hydrofacies are found in the north. The 3D model highlights similarities between the topography of the Botucatu Formation (KJb – eolian sandstones) and the potentiometry of GAS at local scales, and overexploitation zones in Ribeirão Preto's city center. The assessment prioritizes areas at risk and conservation strategies for sedimentary aquifers, emphasizing interactions between surface and groundwater and addressing issues of overexploitation, identifying high-impact risks on GAS hydrodynamics and water quality.