The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is dependent on desalinated water and shallow aquifers to satisfy its freshwater requirements. Despite the paramount importance of understanding the depth and spatial extent of these aquifers, comprehensive investigations into the properties of these aquifers, as well as the underlying subsurface structures and stratigraphy, have been conspicuously lacking. This study presents the findings of integrated geophysical and borehole investigations conducted in the Al Jaww Plain, southeastern Al Ain, UAE, focusing on the properties of groundwater aquifers, the Semail ophiolite contact, and subsurface structures and stratigraphy. Through the analysis of groundwater borehole data, three interconnected types of groundwater aquifers have been identified, and characterized by their hydrogeological properties. The near-surface Quaternary unconfined aquifer, with an average thickness of 25 m, represents a fresh groundwater aquifer. The second aquifer, with an average thickness of 110 m, is connected to the upper Quaternary freshwater aquifer and is interpreted as part of the surficial aquifer system. The third aquifer has an average thickness of 200 m. By employing electrical resistivity tomography, the depth of the water table and groundwater potential in the shallow unconfined Quaternary aquifer near Jabal Mundassa have been estimated, aligning with the properties observed in the unconfined Quaternary aquifer across the entire Al Jaww Plain as depicted in the groundwater borehole cross section. In addition, this study provides insights into subsurface structures and stratigraphic features, revealing the westward extension of the Hawasina thrust sheet within the plain. Gravity and magnetic data analyses in the southeastern region of the Al Jaww Plain delineate the extent of the Semail ophiolite. Notably, magnetic data reveals the presence of an NW–SE-oriented magnetic anomaly detached from the main ophiolite thrust, which corresponds to the interpretation of the Semail ophiolite contact with sedimentary carbonate rocks on the Bouguer gravity map.

中文翻译：

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阿拉伯联合酋长国艾因东南部 Al Jaww 平原的结构和地层学：对含水层系统和地幔冲断层的影响

阿拉伯联合酋长国（UAE）依靠淡化水和浅层含水层来满足其淡水需求。尽管了解这些含水层的深度和空间范围至关重要，但对这些含水层的特性以及底层地下结构和地层学的全面调查却明显缺乏。本研究介绍了在阿联酋艾恩东南部的 Al Jaww 平原进行的综合地球物理和钻孔调查的结果，重点关注地下水含水层的特性、Semail 蛇绿岩接触面以及地下结构和地层学。通过对地下水钻孔数据的分析，已经确定了三种相互关联的地下水含水层类型，并通过其水文地质特性进行了表征。近地表第四系无承压含水层平均厚度25 m，为地下水淡水含水层。第二含水层平均厚度为110 m，与上第四系淡水含水层相连，被解释为地表含水层系统的一部分。第三含水层平均厚度200 m。通过采用电阻率断层扫描，估算了 Jabal Mundassa 附近浅层无承压第四纪含水层的地下水位深度和地下水潜力，与地下水钻孔中所示的整个 Al Jaww 平原无承压第四纪含水层中观察到的特性一致横截面。此外，这项研究还提供了对地下结构和地层特征的深入了解，揭示了平原内哈瓦西纳冲断片向西的延伸。Al Jaww 平原东南部地区的重力和磁力数据分析描绘了 Semail 蛇绿岩的范围。值得注意的是，磁力数据揭示了与主要蛇绿岩逆冲分离的北西-东南方向磁异常的存在，这对应于布格重力图上塞梅尔蛇绿岩与沉积碳酸盐岩接触的解释。