HYDRO-GEOLOGY, GROUNDWATER RESOURCES AND ANALYSIS OF POTENTIAL AQUIFERS IN MALANI IGNEOUS SUITE- A CASE STUDY OF SIROHI DISTRICT OF RAJASTHAN

Sustainable Groundwater Resources Management is the need of the time and this aspect become crucial in the western desertic terrain of Rajasthan which witness scanty rainfall. Sirohi district is also a part of Malani Igneous Suite (MIS) and in the district MIS is represented by Granites, Rhyolites and Igneous tuffs. The Main litho-units exposed in the district are Phyllites, Schists, Granite, Rhyolite, Gneisses and Alluvium. The Potential aquifers in the district are Rhyolite, Granite, Erinpura Granite, Gneisses, Phyllite and Schists. Analysis of rainfall pattern between the periods (year 2011 to 2013) reveals that there is significant year wise fluctuation in rainfall which affect groundwater recharge. Moreover the areas covered with fair vegetation receive more rains as compared to nonvegetation portions. This is clearly witness in Mt. Abu & Pindwara Blocks of the district. The impact of rainfall on groundwater recharge have also been analysed and it is revealed that Malani Igneous Suite rocks viz, Rhyolites and Granites have significant water retention capacity throughout the year. Thus authors concluded that the groundwater augmentation structures may be constructed largely on these potential aquifer rocks (Granite& Rhyolite).