Geological structures introduce heterogeneity along deformed strata, which in turn exert a strong control on regional groundwater occurrences and water flow. We developed and applied procedures of structural, borehole and direct current resistivity (DCR) data to (1) figure out a reliable structural model of a fault-related dome, (2) visualize the relationship between structural complexity and aquifers geometry and (3) characterize the fault damage zones and its related sealing potentialities. The present approach was applied at the northern Eastern Desert, Egypt, considering its complex deformation history. To alleviate the uncertainties and artifacts in solving the DCR inverse problem, advanced and non-conventional inversion schemes were applied. Moreover, fault seal potentialities were assessed by applying the shale gouge ratio (SGR) estimation to predict the groundwater pathway flow. The main findings include: (a) The DCR measurements can be considered as a complementary tool to visualize the relationship between subsurface structures and aquifers geometry at highly deformed areas; (b) detailed surface structural data analysis combined with sophisticated inversion algorithms application can increase the reliability of the constructed geo-electrical cross sections for deep and large-scale geological surveys; and (c) the structural modeling of geological units and faults distribution contributes to clarify hydrogeological settings and aquifers connectivity. The approach can be readily applied elsewhere, as long as detailed structural analysis, geometric parameters and high-resolution DCR resistivity data are available.

中文翻译：

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利用露头，钻孔和电阻率数据对断层穹顶进行水文地质表征

地质结构沿变形地层引入了非均质性，进而对区域地下水的发生和水流施加了强有力的控制。我们开发并应用了结构，钻孔和直流电阻率（DCR）数据的程序，以（1）找出与断层相关的穹顶的可靠结构模型，（2）可视化结构复杂性与含水层几何形状之间的关系，以及（3）表征断层破坏带及其相关的封闭潜力。考虑到其复杂的变形历史，本方法已在埃及东部东部沙漠北部使用。为了减轻解决DCR反问题的不确定性和人为因素，应用了高级和非常规的反演方案。此外，通过应用页岩泥比（SGR）估算来预测地下水通道流量，从而评估断层封闭潜力。主要发现包括：（a）DCR测量可以看作是一种辅助工具，用于可视化高度变形区域的地下结构与含水层几何形状之间的关系；（b）详细的地表结构数据分析与先进的反演算法相结合，可以提高用于深​​部和大规模地质勘测的已构造地电断面的可靠性；（c）地质单元和断层分布的结构模型有助于阐明水文地质环境和含水层的连通性。只要详细的结构分析，