Classification of aquifers in the Mina field, Nuevo Leon, using geographic information systems

Abstract

This paper studies the availability of groundwater from the ``Campo Mina{''} aquifer, located in the state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico for the agro-industrial planning of the Bravo-San Juan sub-basin. The methodology consists of compiling data derived from remote sensors and geographic information systems for the agroindustrial planning of the Rio Bravo-San Juan sub-basin under a climate change context. Remote sensing and GIS data were used to delineate potential groundwater zones. Several maps (such as: topographic map, geological, hydrogeomorphological, structural, relief dissection, slope map, groundwater) were processed using remote sensing data along with other existing maps. The availability of groundwater of the aquifer was classified qualitatively in different classes (i.e., very good, good, regular, poor and zero) depending on their hydro-geomorphological conditions. The groundwater availability map of the Mina field, Nuevo Leon, was elaborated considering maximum and minimum precipitation as well as the climatic classification of Koppen modified by Garcia (2004) and adjusted for the conditions of northeastern Mexico. The sedimentary wedges of the quaternary alluvium (free aquifer), shale limestone piedmont as well as limestone hills were successfully delineated to show groundwater potential for each formation.