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'''Most of the information on this page was taken from the chapter on Gabon in the report [https://www.bgs.ac.uk/africagroundwateratlas/fulldetails.cfm?id=AGLA060010 ‘Groundwater in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa’] (UN 1989). This information is outdated. If you have more recent information on the hydrogeology of Gabon, please get in touch.'''
'''Most of the textual information on this page was taken from the chapter on Gabon in the report [https://www.bgs.ac.uk/africagroundwateratlas/fulldetails.cfm?id=AGLA060010 ‘Groundwater in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa’] (UN 1989). This information is outdated. If you have more recent information on the hydrogeology of Gabon, please get in touch.'''


[[Overview of Africa Groundwater Atlas | Africa Groundwater Atlas]] >> [[Hydrogeology by country | Hydrogeology by country]] >> Hydrogeology of Gabon
[[Overview of Africa Groundwater Atlas | Africa Groundwater Atlas]] >> [[Hydrogeology by country | Hydrogeology by country]] >> Hydrogeology of Gabon

Revision as of 16:14, 3 September 2015

Most of the textual information on this page was taken from the chapter on Gabon in the report ‘Groundwater in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa’ (UN 1989). This information is outdated. If you have more recent information on the hydrogeology of Gabon, please get in touch.

Africa Groundwater Atlas >> Hydrogeology by country >> Hydrogeology of Gabon


Compilers

Dr Kirsty Upton and Brighid Ó Dochartaigh, British Geological Survey, UK

Geographical Setting

Gabon lies on the equator. It has a coastline of about 800 km in the west, onto the Gulf of Guinea. Much of the country is quite flat, including plains and plateaus of the coastal basin, which are all less than 250 m elevation. Inland are some higher plateaus, including a chain of mountains running northwest-southeast that rise to nearly 1000 m; crystalline plateaus in the northeast; and the Bateke plateaus in the southeast.

Map of Gabon (For more information on the datasets used in the map see the geography resources section)


General

Estimated Population in 2013* 1,671,700
Rural Population (% of total) (2013)* 13.3%
Total Surface Area* 257,670 sq km
Agricultural Land (% of total area) (2012)* 20.0%
Capital City Libreville
Region Central Africa
Border Countries Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo
Annual Freshwater Withdrawal (2013)* 139.1 Million cubic metres
Annual Freshwater Withdrawal for Agriculture (2013)* 29.0%
Annual Freshwater Withdrawal for Domestic Use (2013)* 60.9%
Annual Freshwater Withdrawal for Industry (2013)* 10.1%
Rural Population with Access to Improved Water Source (2012)* 63%
Urban Population with Access to Improved Water Source (2012)* 96.8%

* Source: World Bank


Climate

Gabon has a wet equatorial climate. Annual rainfall is highest in the northwest, at more than 3000 mm, falling towards the east and southeast to around 1500 mm. There are two rainy seasons, from September to mid December, and mid February to May, separated by a long dry season (June to September) and a short dry season (December to February).

Temperatures are high throughout the year, declining slightly from the north towards the east and south.


Average monthly precipitation for Gabon showing minimum and maximum (light blue), 25th and 75th percentile (blue), and median (dark blue) rainfall Average monthly temperature for Gabon showing minimum and maximum (orange), 25th and 75th percentile (red), and median (black) temperature Quarterly precipitation over the period 1950-2012 Monthly precipitation (blue) over the period 2000-2012 compared with the long term monthly average (red)

For further detail on the climate datasets used see the climate resources section.

Surface water

The main river in Gabon is the Ogooué, which drains over 70% of the country, as well as parts of Cameroon and the Republic of the Congo. Its main tributaries are the Ivindo, in northeast Gabon, and the Ngounié. The second largest river is the Nyanga. There are also several coastal rivers, including the Mbéi and the Komo. There are a number of major dams on the larger rivers.

Most of the rivers are perennial. Monitoring of river flows shows relatively constant flow patterns throughout the year.

Surface Water Map of Gabon (For more information on the datasets used in the map see the surface water resources section)

Soil

Soil Map of Gabon (For map key and more information on the datasets used in the map see the soil resources section)

Land cover

Much of the country is covered by equatorial forest.
Land Cover Map of Gabon (For map key and more information on the datasets used in the map see the land cover resources section)


Geology

This section provides a summary of the geology of Gabon.

The geology map on this page shows a simplified version of the geology at a national scale (see the Geology resources page for more details).

Simplified geological map of Gabon


Geological Environments
Key Formations Period Lithology
Proterozoic sedimentary sequence
Unconsolidated sediments Quaternary These sediments include coastal sand belts and fluvial alluvium in river valleys, overlying bedrock. They are not shown on the geological map, but can be important local aquifers, in particular the coastal sands (see Hydrogeology section, below).
Bateké plateau Tertiary This plateau in southeast Gabon consists of continental sandstones and sands that unconformably overlie Precambrian Francevillian formations.
Coastal sedimentary basin Upper Palaeozoic to Mid Cretaceous (interior basin); Cretaceous to Tertiary (Atlantic/western basin) This basin is divided in two by the Lambarené crystalline horst structure.

The interior synclinal basin (200 x 60 km) contains up to 3500 m thickness of older fluvio-lacustrine and lagoonal continental formations: sandstone, marl, clay, shale and conglomerate.

The Atlantic, or western, basin (500 x 15 to 200 km) contains up to 8000 m of younger marine formations: carbonate-rich sandstone, argillite and detrital deposits.

Precambrian meta-sedimentary sequence
Mpioka, schist-limestone, Louila and Bouenza series Upper Precambrian These series occur within the Nyanga syncline.

The Mpioka series forms the core of the Nyanga syncline and includes schists, sandstone schists and argillites.

The schist-limestone series occurs in the plain within the circumfrence of the Nyanga syncline, and consists of limestones, dolomites and marls with frequent karstic features. There is a lateritic cover which can be up to 30 m thick.

The Louila and Bouenza series crop out at the edge of the schist-limestone series, the Louila on the west and the Bouenza on the east. They include sandstones and quartzitic sandstones, schists and argillites, and intermediate rocks.

Francivillian system (also Mayombian and Ogooué systems) Middle Precambrian The Francivillain system in southeast Gabon includes five formations, which contain deposits of detrital uranium (conglomerate, sandstone, pelite, jasper and pyroclastic deposits).

The Ogooué system in central Gabon contains volcano-sedimentary and metamorphic formations.

The Mayombian system in southwest Gabon contains conglomerate, arkose, quartzite and carbonate-rich schist. This middle series at the eastern edge of the Lower Precambrian Mayombe range (see below) also contains meta-sedimentary rocks.

Basement
Crystalline basement Lower Precambrian This system comprises the North Gabon massif, the Chaillu massif and the Mayombe range. They comprise largely granites.

The Mayombe range contains migmatites, granitogneiss, quartzites, mica schists and complex metamorphic rocks.

Hydrogeology

This section provides a summary of the hydrogeology of the main aquifers in Gabon.

The hydrogeology map on this page shows a simplified version of the type and productivity of the main aquifers at a national scale (see the Aquifer properties resource page for more details).

Simplified map of aquifer type and productivity in Gabon


Summary

The Atlantic coastal basin, Bateké plateau and Upper Precambrian meta-sedimentary sequence form important aquifers in Gabon. Within the metamorphic and granitic Middle and Lower Precambrian basement rocks, there are only small, isolated aquifers.

The upper layers of the hard rocks are generally weathered and altered, mostly to laterite, to depths of up to 30 m (thickest in the limestone series), and possibly thicker in granite areas. These altered layers, in particular laterites, form low productivity shallow aquifers that feed perennial springs, but which have very low flows in the dry season. With a typically low mineral content, these shallow groundwater resources are widely used nationally for traditional supplies, but they typically have high sediment content and high vulnerability to contamination, and are not widely targeted for improved supplies.


Unconsolidated - Coastal sedimentary basin

Named Aquifers Period Water quality
Sand belts Quaternary The coastal sand belts form an aquifer recharged by direct rainfall infiltration. The aquifer is 25 m thick at Port Gentil. Transmissivity values range from 50 to 350 m²/day, with specific capacity values of between 50 and 75 m³/day/m - or borehole yields on the order of 2 to 3.5 m³/hour per metre of drawdown.

In some places freshwater fills the whole thickness of the aquifer; in others, it rests as a freshwater lens over salt water.

Generally low mineral content (TDS 50 to 250 mg/l), and calcium bicarbonate to calcium/sodium chloride types. Often rich in organic matter and with high iron concentrations of up to 20 to 35 mg/l. In Port Gentil in 1974, despite production of 8000 m³/day, no sea water intrusion was observed.
'Cirques' series: Akosso (Pliocene) and N'Tchengue (Upper Miocene) Tertiary In the Mayumba region, boreholes tap the Pliocene sand strata at depths of up to 40 m and specific capacity values of 20 to 85 m³/day/m. Generally calcium bicarbonate type and not highly mineralised.

Sedimentary - Intergranular Flow

Named Aquifers Period General Description Water quality
Bateké plateaus Tertiary The soft sandstones with clay intercalations form a large, permeable aquifer. There is high direct recharge from rainfall - estimated at over 900 mm/year. The aquifer is drained by rivers flowing in steep sided valleys, which have low surface water flows, indicating high rates of groundwater flow of up to 2000 to 2500 m²/day/km².

Boreholes 100 m deep have shown sandstones at depths of 50 to 70 m with transmissivity values of around 70 m²/day, and specific capacity values of 15 to 240 m³/day/m.

Typically low mineral content, with total dissolved solids of around 40 mg/l, and low pH of around 5.
Komadji series (Maastrichtian to Senonian); Sibang and Azilé series (Turonian); Red and Cap Lopez series (Cenomanian); Madiela series (Upper Albian to Upper Aptian); Cretaceous: Maastrichtian to Upper Aptian The upper Cretaceous series includes a wide range of sedimentary facies, including clays, marls, sandy marls and marly sandstones, argillaceous sandstones, calcareous sandstones, limestones, dolomites and possibly gypsum. These have variable groundwater potential depending on their lithology.

The sandstones of the Komadji series show a transmissivity value of around 10 m²/day and specific capacity of around 1 to 5 m³/day/m. Limestones in the series can be karstic and may have significantly higher groundwater potential.

Limestones and sandstones of the Siband and Azilé series are at least 500 m thick below Libreville. They have specific capacity values of around 30 m³/day/m and transmissivity values of around 90 m²/day.

The Red and Cap Lopez series are generally marly to sandy marl. Lagoonal strata can have a high gypsum content. The formations appear to have low permeability and groundwater potential.

Sandstones, limestones and dolomites of the Madiela series appear to have low to moderate permeability. Boreholes 70 to 100 m deep had transmissivity values of around 6 to 8 m²/day.

Groundwater in the Komadji series typically has total dissolved solids of less than 300 mg/l.

Groundwater in the Sibang and Azilé series is typically of sodium carbonate type, to sodium bicarbonate and sulphate. Total dissolved solids increase with depth: 200 to 300 mg/l down to 150 m depth, and 450 to 700 mg/l or greater at greater depths. Sulphate concentrations increase at depth, where this series overlies the older Cenomanian series which contains significant gypsum. Water in the lower Sibang series has a high fluoride concentration of up to 1.2 mg/l, related to phosphated strata.

Groundwater in the Madiela series has a total dissolved solids of 300 to 450 mg/l, and is of calcium carbonate type.


Sedimentary - Intergranular & Fracture Flow

Named Aquifers Period General Description Water quality
Vembo Shales; Gamba series; Remboué series; Kango series Cretaceous: Upper Aptian to Neocomian The Vembo shales are at least 110 m deep near Cocobeach, but are thought to have low permeability, with a recorded borehole yield of 5 m³/day.

Sandstones at least 175 m thick of the Gamba series have been identified below 25 to 50 m of Vembo Shales north of Ntoum, forming a confined aquifer with artesian groundwater levels in the lowest lying areas. Boreholes that tapped only the top 10 m of the series had a specific capacity of 10 m³/day/m.

Little is known of the groundwater potential of the Remboué series. Sandstones within the predominantly marl sequence may have potential.

The marly deposits of the Kango series are likely to have very low groundwater potential.

Groundwater in the Gamba series is of calcium and magnesium bicarbonate type.
Ndombo series; Mvone series; Agaoula series; Upper Jurassic to Permian The Ndombo series forms a permeable fine-grained sandstone aquifer with conglomeratic intercalations. The highest groundwater potential is in the conglomerate strata and fractured zones. A specific capacity of around 22 m³/day/m and transmissivity of around 20 m²/day has been recorded. To achieve optimal productivity, boreholes need to be quite deep in order to penetrate the conglomeratic strata and/or a sufficient number of fractures. The aquifer receives abundant direct rainfall recharge. Southeast of Cocobeach, the sandstone aquifer becomes confined below Vembo Shales, and artesian conditions occur. Occasionally, artesian conditions of at least 5 m head also occur in the low areas of the plain, where the sandstone aquifer is overlain by tens of metres of clay.

Little is known of the groundwater potential of the Mvone and Agaoula series. Coarse grained conglomeratic sandstones in the Mvone series may have good potential, but the sandstone-marl of the Agoula series is likely to have low permeability.

Groundwater in the Ndombo series has a low mineral content (total dissolved solids of around 70 mg/l) and pH of around 6, and is of calcium bicarbonate type.

Sedimentary - Fracture Flow

Named Aquifers Period General Description Water quality
Mpioka series; Schist-limestone series; Louila and Bouenza series Upper Precambrian The metamorphic schists, sandstone schists and argillites of the Mpioka series form a low productivity regional aquifer, in which permeability is controlled by the degree of fracturing. The highest yields are found in fractured sandstones. Average specific capacity values for schists are from less than 2.5 to 12 m³/day/m; and for sandstones and sandstone schists are higher, often 25 to 80 m³/day/m.

The schist-limestone series is often karstic: there are frequent sinkholes with disappearance and resurgences of surface watercourses. Specific capacity values range from less than 12 to more than 500 m³/day/m, but are usually between 24 and 120 m³/day/m. The highest yields are from fractures, such as at Mandji, where a 2 m thick fracture zone provided a yield of 770 m³/day for a drawdown of only 1 m. Lateritic cover can be particularly thick, up to 30 m, and must be effectively cased out in boreholes to prevent intrusion of poor quality water.

Little is known of the aquifer potential of the Louila and Bouenza series, but it is likely to vary according to the facies, with higher potential in sandstones.

Groundwater in the Mpioka series rocks typically has low to moderate mineral content (50 to 200 mg/l), with low pH of 5.5 to 6, and is of calcium bicarbonate or mixed calcium and sodium bicarbonate type.

Groundwater in the schist-limestone series typically has a relatively high mineral content (total dissolved solids of 200 to 400 mg/l), and is of calcium bicarbonate type, with a pH of 7 to 7.5.


Francevillian Middle Precambrian The Francevillian is a complex metasedimentary system. The main units consist of pelites, ampelites, sandstones, jaspers and dolomites. They generally have low aquifer potential, with average specific capacity values of 1 to 2.5 m³/day/m (pelites and ampelites); 1 to 12 m³/day/m (sandstones); and 2.5 to 30 m³/day/m (dolomites). The highest yields come from zones of contact between pelites and ampelites, and from fractured dolomites. Groundwater in the dolomites has the highest mineral content, at around 300 mg/l, and is typically of calcium bicarbonate type.

Groundwater in the pelites and sandstones generally has low mineral content (less than 80 mg/l), and is also typically of calcium bicarbonate type, sometimes mixed with magnesium carbonate, and with low pH.

Basement

Named Aquifers Period General Description Water quality
Crystalline basement Lower Precambrian The granites, which comprise much of the crystalline basement rocks, have very low permeability. Groundwater potential depends on the degree of weathering. Specific capacity values are typically less than 12 m³/day/m. In the most favourable areas, successful boreholes have specific capacities of 25 to 20 m³/day/m; but in the least favourable most boreholes have specific capacities of less than 1 m³/day/m. Groundwater often has a relatively high mineral content, with total dissolved solids between 200 and 550 mg/l.

Groundwater Status

Groundwater quantity

Many of Gabon's aquifers appear to have the potential for further development, both for rural and urban water supplies.


Groundwater quality

Groundwater from most aquifers in Gabon is of good quality, particularly at deeper levels - shallow groundwater often has a high iron content, as well as being more vulnerable to contamination.

Groundwater use and management

Groundwater use

Many coastal cities use groundwater, including Libreville and Port Gentil, from a number of aquifers including Quaternary sands at Port Gentil, and Jurassic and Cretaceous sedimentary aquifers in Libreville. Many of the main interior centres used to use surface water, but groundwater has replaced or supplemented this in some places.

A programme of drilling rural water supply boreholes took place from the 1970s. Across most of the country, these rural water supply boreholes have low yields, but sufficient to meet local demand.


References

The following report provides more detailed information on the geology and hydrogeology of Gabon:

United Nations. 1989. Groundwater in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa: Gabon. United Nations Department of Technical Cooperation for Development, Natural Resources/Water Series No.19

The reference list in this report provides other sources of information, although none are more recent than 1984.

A small number of other documents are listed in the Africa Groundwater Literature Archive


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Africa Groundwater Atlas >> Hydrogeology by country >> Hydrogeology of Gabon