Regional geologic environs and natural resources of Badia sector, Jordan

This paper summarizes the information on the geology and natural resources of the Jordan Badia Research and Development Programme. The research focuse d on the issue of the environment in arid lands as an aid to provide practi cal options for sustainable development. This paper presents results of fie ld studies in the following areas related to the sustainable development of the Safawi area in the northern Jordan Badia; geomorphology, including lan dform, soil, lands, processes and hazards, geology and physical resources a nd surface water hydrology. Tertiary-Quarternary continental basalt flows a nd tuffs cover approximately 11 000 km(2), the majority of the Safawi area. In addition to extensive basalt lava flows, the programme area includes a variety of geological outcrops and potential sources of economic products t hat include the following: tuff/Scoria, Zeolite/Olivine, Porcellanite, pote ntial sources of aggregate/construction materials, ornamental stone, buildi ng stone, basalt for manufacturing of rock wool, and materials suitable for producing lightweight aggregate. The whole of the eastern Badia exhibits m ajor fault systems, many of which were identified from landsat TM images. T he system of wadis which drains the Badia is extensive, with the general fl ow from the north to the south and south-west. A noticeable geomorphic surf icial deposit occuring throughout much of the Badia is fine-grained, water- lain sediments that vary in size and character. The local designation for t he fine sediment deposits is Qaa. An MSS scene for the area under considera tion has been studied. Twelve major geomorphic subdivisions or zones can be identified. Individual land system units have been identified by transvers ing the programme area. key sites have been visited based on Landsat TM ima ge interpretation. To a large extent, key areas were subdivided after their initial identification on the landsat scene and corroboration in the field . The surface drainage of the Badia region can be broadly divided into wadi systems, areas of distinct channelized flow, and Qaa, predominantly fine-g rained sedimentary basins of low relief. Spatial variability in infiltratio n rates across the wadi-Qaa system were determined from field experiments. Infiltration rates were found to be medium-high in the wadi channels but de crease rapidly for the Qaa materials. Apparently runoff from wadi side slop es will be high, and water storage occurs along the wadi channels while pon ding occurs in the Qaa areas.