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Outcrop mapping as well as electromagnetic and ground magnetic surveys was carried out within Auchi and Igarra localities in order to attempt an interpretation of the geology of the areas and to delineate the boundary between basement and sedimentary terrains. Geologic mapping was done by collecting samples of outcrops at five different locations within the areas. Three lithofacies were identified within Auchi area and they are the basal shale unit, tabular cross-bedded sandstone unit and ferruginized sandstone unit. The pebbly shale is greyish black in colour; the cross-bedded sandstone unit is greyish white, coarse-grained at the base and finer at the top with pockets of clay, while the ferruginized sandstone is dark red. Rocks of the Precambrian basement complex underlie Igarra area. The area is underlain by metasediments that have been intruded by igneous rocks. Results show the presence of three major groups of igneous and metamorphic rocks within the area, and they are the migmatite–gneiss complex, metasediments and porphyritic granites. The electromagnetic and ground magnetic data acquired along Profile X located along Auchi–Igarra–Ibillo road were processed using Microsoft Excel Software and the resulting plots delineated areas with lower electrical conductivities and higher magnetic susceptibilities, as well as areas with higher electrical conductivities and lower magnetic susceptibilities. The areas with lower electrical conductivities and higher magnetic susceptibilities are interpreted to be underlain by basement rocks, while the areas with higher electrical conductivities and lower magnetic susceptibilities are underlain by sedimentary rocks. The plots also delineated the most likely basement–sedimentary boundary in the area.

In recent years, various geological activities and different mineral prospecting and exploration programs have been intensified along the Red Sea hills in order to elucidate the geological maps and to evaluate the mineral potentials. This study is therefore aimed at testing the viability of using remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) techniques for geological mapping and prospecting for gold mineralization in the area. The study area is located in northeast Sudan and covers an area of about 1379 km2. Different digital image processing techniques were applied to Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager image in order to increase the discrimination between various lithological units and to delineate wall rock alteration which represents target zones for gold mineralization. Image sharpening was performed to enhance the spatial resolution of the images for more detailed information. Contrast stretching was applied after the various digital processing procedures to produce more interpretable images. The principal component analysis transformations yielded saturated images and resulted in more interpretable images than the original data. Several ratio images were prepared, combined together and displayed in RGB color composite ratio images. This process revealed the existence of alteration zones in the study area. These zones extend from the northeast to the southwest in the acid meta-volcanic and silica barite rocks. The enhanced satellite images were implemented in the GIS environment to facilitate the final production of the geological map at scale 1:400,000. X-ray fluorescence analyses prove that selected samples taken from the wall rock alteration zones are gold-bearing.

The electrical resistivity method was used to determine the groundwater potential of Ogidi and its environs. Thirteen soundings were carried out at thirteen different locations using the ABEM terrameter (SAS 1000), and adopting the Schlumberger configuration with maximum current electrode spacing of 1000 m. The lithologic logs for the boreholes were used to delineate the geologic sections. The results revealed six to nine geo-electric layers comprising laterite, clayey sandstone, sandstone, water-saturated sandstone and shale. The water-saturated sandstone forms the aquiferous unit. This unit was found to have resistivity values ranging from 363Ωm to 9107Ωm. It is deeply seated in some areas with a depth of 33.2–103 m. It was observed that the hydraulic conductivity varies between 0.001 and 0.066 m/day, while the transmissivity values vary between 0.01 and 4.7 m2/day. Among all the VES points studied, it was observed that VES 1 has the highest transmissivity value and the highest aquifer thickness. In view of the foregoing, it is expected that water will flow more from aquifer in VES 1 since groundwater flow from an aquifer is directly proportional to transmissivity.

Hydrogeochemical analyses of groundwater samples in Shamal area were undertaken to assess the groundwater chemistry of the area and hence determine its suitability for irrigation and other purposes. Thirteen groundwater samples were freshly collected from different functional wells in the area and were analyzed for different physico-chemical parameters. The analyzed parameters include TDS, EC, major cations and anions. The water quality study shows that EC ranges from 7891.88-20 736.84 μS/cm, TDS values range from 5050.80-13 271.58 mg/l. Analytical study of water samples shows that sodium varies from 1316.38-3432.39 mg/l, calcium varies from 300.81-799.93 mg/l, magnesium varies from 126.66-381.81 mg/l, potassium varies from 74-181.02 mg/l, chloride values range from 2177.75-6058 mg/l, sulphate values range from 743.87-2448.79 mg/l and bicarbonate values range from 23.13-240.3 mg/l. The high concentrations of sodium and chloride ions are indicators of saline water intrusion. The analyses of the hydrogeochemical ratios were also done to highlight the groundwater genesis and origin of mineralization. The water samples were analyzed for suitability for irrigation using various classification criteria and mathematical formula. The results from analysis of KR, SAR, SSP, PS, EC and %Na all indicate that the water in the area is unfit for use in irrigation.