User Guide: Africa Groundwater

Atlas Country Hydrogeology

Maps, Version 1.0
Groundwater Programme
Open Report OR/19/035
 BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

GROUNDWATER PROGRAMME
OPEN REPORT OR/19/035

User Guide: Africa Groundwater

Atlas Country Hydrogeology
Maps, Version 1.0

Ó Dochartaigh, Brighid É

The National Grid and other

Ordnance Survey data © Crown
Copyright and database rights
2019. Ordnance Survey Licence
No. 100021290 EUL.

Keywords
Groundwater; Hydrogeology;
Map; GIS; Africa.

Front cover
Cover picture details, delete if no
cover picture.

Bibliographical reference
Ó DOCHARTAIGH, B.É.2019.
User Guide: Africa Groundwater
Atlas Country Hydrogeology
Maps, Version 1.0. British
Geological Survey Open Report,
OR/19/035. 21pp.
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Foreword
This report is the published product of a project by the British Geological Survey (BGS).
The Africa Groundwater Atlas (referred to in this report as the Atlas) is an online resource
developed by the BGS, in collaboration with hydrogeologists across Africa. The Atlas provides a
summary of the groundwater resources of 51 African countries, and a gateway to further
information, available at https://www.bgs.ac.uk/africagroundwateratlas/index.cfm.
The Atlas presents new digital GIS maps showing the hydrogeology (aquifer type and
productivity) and geology (with particular relevance to hydrogeology) of each of 48 African
countries, at a scale of 1:5 million. Version 1.0 of the dataset was released in 2019. The initial
release was of digital maps for 38 countries. Maps for an additional 10 countries will be released
later.
This guide is written for users of these new digital country maps. It describes their format, scale,
attributes and content, how they were developed and what underlying datasets they are based on.
A basic appreciation of Geographical Information System (GIS) terminology will help readers
understand some of the information given here.

Acknowledgements
The author thanks the many individual co-authors of country pages in the Africa Groundwater
Atlas, who advised on the development of these maps. They are referenced on the relevant Atlas
country page and also on this page: http://earthwise.bgs.ac.uk/index.php/List_of_Authors.
Thanks are also due to BGS colleagues Jennifer Bow for GIS support with producing the final map
shapefiles; Rob Smith and Gerry Wildman for support with licencing and data release; and Kirsty
Upton and Melinda Lewis for reviewing this report.

i
Contents
Foreword ......................................................................................................................................... i 

Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... i 

Contents.......................................................................................................................................... ii 

Summary ....................................................................................................................................... iv 

1  Background ............................................................................................................................. 4 
1.1  What the maps show ....................................................................................................... 4 
1.2  Who might use this dataset ............................................................................................. 4 
1.3  Dataset format and how to view the data ....................................................................... 4 

2  Technical information ............................................................................................................ 5 

2.1  Definitions ...................................................................................................................... 5 
2.2  Map Scale ....................................................................................................................... 5 
2.3  Data and attribute field descriptions ............................................................................... 5 
2.4  How the Atlas Country Hydrogeology maps were created ............................................ 9 
2.5  Map Legends ................................................................................................................ 11 
2.6  Coverage ....................................................................................................................... 13 
2.7  Limitations .................................................................................................................... 15 
2.8  Future Development ..................................................................................................... 15 
2.9  Feedback ....................................................................................................................... 15 

3  Licensing Information ......................................................................................................... 15 

References .................................................................................................................................... 17 

ii
FIGURES

Figure 1  Countries for which Africa Groundwater Atlas country hydrogeology maps (Version
1.0) are available..................................................................................................................... 13 

TABLES

Table 1  Attribute fields in the Africa Groundwater Atlas country hydrogeology maps ............. 7 
Table 2  Definitions and descriptions of aquifer type categories ................................................. 8 
Table 3  Definitions and descriptions of aquifer productivity categories ..................................... 9 
Table 4  Africa-wide quantitative groundwater maps released by BGS in 2012 (For more
information see
https://www.bgs.ac.uk/research/groundwater/international/africanGroundwater/mapsDownlo
ad.html ) .................................................................................................................................. 10 
Table 5  Summary of colour schemes for geology and hydrogeology legends .......................... 12 
Table 6  Countries for which Africa Groundwater Atlas country hydrogeology maps (Version
1.0) are available, with legend language ................................................................................ 14 

iii
Summary
This report is the published product of a project by the British Geological Survey (BGS).
The Africa Groundwater Atlas (referred to in this report as the Atlas) is an online resource
developed by the BGS, in collaboration with hydrogeologists across Africa. The Atlas provides a
summary of the groundwater resources of 51 African countries, and a gateway to further
information, available at https://www.bgs.ac.uk/africagroundwateratlas/index.cfm.
The Atlas presents new digital GIS maps showing the hydrogeology (aquifer type and
productivity) and geology (with particular relevance to hydrogeology) of each of 48 African
countries, at a scale of 1:5 million. Version 1.0 of the dataset was released in 2019. The initial
release was of digital maps for 38 countries. Maps for an additional 10 countries will be released
later.
This guide is written for users of these new digital country maps. It describes their format, scale,
attributes and content, how they were developed and what underlying datasets they are based on.
A basic appreciation of Geographical Information System (GIS) terminology will help readers
understand some of the information given here.

1 Background
The Africa Groundwater Atlas country hydrogeology maps (Version 1.0, 2019) are new digital
maps produced as part of the UPGro Africa Groundwater Atlas project (referred to in this report
as the Atlas).
The Africa Groundwater Atlas is an online resource that summarises the hydrogeology and
groundwater resources of 51 African countries, and is a gateway to further information. The aim
of the Atlas is to improve the availability and accessibility of high quality information on
groundwater in Africa. The Atlas is available at
https://www.bgs.ac.uk/africagroundwateratlas/index.cfm.

1.1 WHAT THE MAPS SHOW

The Atlas country hydrogeology maps provide an overview of the hydrogeology and geology of
each of 48 countries in Africa, at 1:5 million scale. This initial release is for 38 countries.
The maps have two themes:
 geology with geological categories that reflect significant hydrogeological units (MacDonald et 
al. 2010); and  
 hydrogeology, with categories that combine aquifer type and productivity. Definitions of 
aquifer type and aquifer productivity are given in the relevant sections below.  

1.2 WHO MIGHT USE THIS DATASET

These maps are likely to be useful to people interested in groundwater resources, hydrogeology or
geology of any of the relevant African countries.

1.3 DATASET FORMAT AND HOW TO VIEW THE DATA

The Atlas country hydrogeology maps are provided as free-to-download shapefiles (.shp), also
known as ESRI ‘shape’ format. There is a single shapefile for each country, which contains
attribute information for geology and hydrogeology themes in attribute tables.

iv
Each shapefile is provided with layer files with legends for geology and hydrogeology, in English
and, for selected countries, also in French or Portuguese.
These files can only be viewed in a Geographic Information System (GIS), such as ArcMap, QGIS
or MapInfo. GIS software can be purchased from various vendors, and other free-to-use (open
source) software is available online.
The maps are available to download at https://www.bgs.ac.uk/africagroundwateratlas/index.cfm.

2 Technical information
2.1 DEFINITIONS
The Atlas country hydrogeology maps provide a summary of the hydrogeology and geology for
48 countries in Africa. A total of 38 country maps have been released in an initial phase. An
additional 10 will be released later.
Each map has two themes:
 geology, with geological categories that reflect significant hydrogeological units (MacDonald et 
al. 2010); and 
 a hydrogeology classification that combines aquifer type and productivity. 

For three countries in Africa, no Atlas country maps have been developed: Comoros, Namibia and
South Africa. This is because:
 for Comoros: the base geology map at 1:5 million scale is not at a high enough resolution to 
provide useful information for the country.  
 For Namibia and South Africa: other digital maps of geology and hydrogeology, developed 
outside the Africa Groundwater Atlas project, provide better, larger scale information for both 
these countries, so that developing new Atlas maps with less detail would not be helpful. 

2.2 MAP SCALE

The maps provide a national-scale overview for each country, at a nominal scale of 1:5 million.
This means that 1 cm on the maps is equivalent to 50 km on the ground. This makes them suitable
for viewing at the following maximum sizes:
A2 – for the largest countries in Africa, such as Algeria and the Democratic Republic of
Congo
A3 – for countries of a size similar to Sudan and Mali
A4 – for countries of a size similar to Kenya and Zambia
A5 – for countries of a size similar to Ghana and Tunisia
A6 – for the smallest countries in Africa, such as Burundi and Lesotho.
The maps are not suitable for providing detailed information on geology and hydrogeology at a
sub-national (e.g. catchment) scale.

2.3 DATA AND ATTRIBUTE FIELD DESCRIPTIONS

Each map shapefile contains at least two attribute fields (Table 1), describing:
 geology, (both bedrock and superficial/unconsolidated geology), with geological categories that 
reflect significant hydrogeological units (MacDonald et al. 2010); and  
 hydrogeology, as a combined classification of aquifer type and aquifer productivity.  

5
Unconsolidated sediments: Three of the country maps (Botswana, Mauritania and Sudan) also
include an additional, third attribute field that highlights where very extensive unconsolidated
sediments (largely dune sands) overlie bedrock (Table 1). For these maps only, the geology
attribute field highlights only the underlying bedrock geology. Some other countries in Africa also
have extensive covers of unconsolidated sediments, but in Version 1.0 this has not been shown
separately, primarily because of: the complexity of displaying three dimensional geology on a two
dimensional map; the availability of geological information and understanding; and the need to
adapt each country map to reflect national approaches to geological categorisation.
The combination of aquifer type and aquifer productivity to classify the hydrogeology of each
country provides a practical description that will be understood by hydrogeologists. Definitions of
aquifer type and aquifer productivity are summarised in Tables 2 and 3, with a summary of the
map attribute codes describing the combined hydrogeology categories.
Aquifer type is defined in terms of the hydrogeological environment, or the geological
characteristics that largely control the nature of groundwater flow and storage in the aquifer. Four
main categories have been distinguished, with subdivisions of some of the categories (Table 2).
The key feature of the aquifer type classification is the dominant way that groundwater flows
through, and is stored in, aquifers: e.g. in weathered zones; as intergranular (or matrix) flows
through pores; or through fractures; or through karstic (solution-enhanced) features.
Aquifer productivity has been estimated by using borehole yield data as a proxy, which are the
most widely available data for aquifers in Africa. Available quantitative borehole yield data from
across Africa were synthesised, and six main categories of aquifer productivity were distinguished,
based on approximate ranges of yields (in litres/second or L/s) (Table 3). These ranges are assumed
to relate to the average yields that would be obtained from a single, effectively sited and developed
borehole, to an appropriate depth (which will vary depending on the aquifer type), in the relevant
aquifer. In reality in most cases, the aquifer productivity categories used in the Atlas maps are a
largely qualitative assessment, because of the scale at which these maps have been developed; the
heterogeneity of most of the aquifers; and the limited availability of aquifer properties data. The
category codes applied, therefore, often span more than one of the ranges shown in Table 3.
For each country, the hydrogeology codes are described in text form in the associated legend,
saved as a layer file.

6
Table 1 Attribute fields in the Africa Groundwater Atlas country hydrogeology maps
Attribute  field  Explanation of attribute values  
heading code 
GLG  Geology:  the  geological  descriptions  reflect  significant 
hydrogeological  units  at  a  national  scale  for  each  country,  and 
where possible reflect geological nomenclature used (at this scale) 
in each country. The geological descriptions can include some or all 
of: geological age; lithological description; and whether sediment is 
consolidated or unconsolidated.  
HGComb  Hydrogeology Combined: a combination of Aquifer Type (Table 2) 
and Aquifer Productivity (Table 3). Formed by: Aquifer Type Code‐
Aquifer Productivity Code.  
Some examples are: 
B‐L    Basement Aquifer – Low Productivity 
CSF‐M/H  Consolidated  Sedimentary  Aquifer  dominated  by 
Fracture Flow – Moderate to High Productivity  
CSIF‐M(V) Consolidated  Sedimentary  Aquifer  with  mixed 
Intergranular  and  Fracture  Flow  –  generally  Moderate 
Productivity but noticeably variable 
CSIFK‐H/VH  Consolidated  Sedimentary  Aquifer  with 
mixed  Intergranular  and  Fracture  Flow  and  Karstic  Flow  – 
High to Very High Productivity 
U‐L/H    Unconsolidated  Sedimentary  Aquifer–  Low 
to High Productivity 
U‐H(*)    Unconsolidated Sedimentary Aquifer – High 
Productivity  (*  denotes  further  information,  which  is 
described in the associated legend/layer file) 
UNCON  Extensive  unconsolidated  sediments  overlying  bedrock  (currently 
only  for  Botswana,  Mauritania  and Sudan).  Mainly  aeolian /  dune 
sands.   

7
Table 2 Definitions and descriptions of aquifer type categories
Aquifer Type 
Aquifer type is defined in terms of the hydrogeological environment, or the geological 
characteristics that largely control the nature of groundwater flow and storage in the 
aquifer.  Four  main  categories  have  been  distinguished,  with  subdivisions  of  some 
categories. 
Category  Subcategory  Definition  Attribute 
Field Code 
Unconsolidated    Unconsolidated  U 
Sedimentary  sedimentary  aquifers 
with  dominantly 
intergranular flow 
Consolidated  Consolidated Sedimentary  Aquifers  with  CSF 
Sedimentary  Fracture  dominantly fracture flow 
Consolidated Sedimentary  Aquifers  with  CSI 
Intergranular  dominantly intergranular 
flow 
Consolidated Sedimentary  Aquifers  with  significant  CSIF 
Intergranular/Fracture  intergranular  and 
fracture flow 
Consolidated Sedimentary  Aquifers  with  significant  CSK 
Karst  (sometimes  also  karstic  features  (sometimes 
Consolidated Sedimentary  (sometimes  also  with  also  CSFK 
Fracture  Karst  or  significant  intergranular  or CSIFK) 
Consolidated Sedimentary  and/or fracture flow) 
Intergranular  Fracture 
Karst) 
Igneous  Igneous Intrusive  Intrusive  igneous  I 
aquifers, often granitic 
Volcanic  Volcanic aquifers   V 
Basement    Crystalline  basement  B 
aquifers  with  typical 
weathered/fractured 
aquifer properties  

8
Table 3 Definitions and descriptions of aquifer productivity categories
Aquifer Productivity 
Aquifer productivity is defined based on a synthesis of borehole yield data, which is the 
most  widespread  available  data  for  aquifers  in  Africa.  Six  main  categories  have  been 
distinguished,  based  on  approximate  ranges  of  yields  (in  litres/second  or  L/s).  These 
ranges are assumed to relate to the average yields that would be obtained from a single, 
effectively sited and developed borehole in the relevant aquifer.  
Category  Approximate range in yield  Attribute Field Code 
(l/s) 
Very High  > 20  VH 
High  5 – 20  H 
Moderate  2 – 5  M 
Low to Moderate  0.5 – 2  LM 
Low  0.1 – 0.5  L 
Very Low  < 0.1  VL 

2.4 HOW THE ATLAS COUNTRY HYDROGEOLOGY

MAPS WERE CREATED
The Atlas country hydrogeology maps were developed by modifying and attributing a digital
Africa-wide geology map at 1:5 million scale, using available hydrogeological and geological
information.
The 1:5 million scale geology map was originally published by UNESCO (Furon and Lombard
1964), and was digitised by, and is made available through, the USGS (Persits et al., 2002). It can
be accessed and downloaded in shapefile format via the USGS (details in References). The
digitised geology map includes some linework defining coasts that was created using Esri© data,
used with permission of Esri©.
This 1:5 million scale Africa-wide geology map (Furon and Lombard 1964, Persits et al, 2002)
was used by the British Geological Survey to develop three Africa-wide quantitative groundwater
maps, released in 2012 (Table 4). These are available to download in digital GIS-enabled format
(as xyz tab-delimited text files) from the British Geological Survey
(https://www.bgs.ac.uk/research/groundwater/international/africanGroundwater/maps.html) and
can also be viewed on an online portal hosted by IGRAC (https://www.un-igrac.org/special-
project/africa-groundwater-portal). These maps are underpinned by systematic data and literature
reviews and case studies. More detail on their development is available on their download webpage
(https://www.bgs.ac.uk/research/groundwater/international/africanGroundwater/maps.html) and
in a number of documents, particularly MacDonald et al. (2010, 2012), and also Bonsor and
MacDonald (2010a, 2010b, 2011).

9
Table 4 Africa-wide quantitative groundwater maps released by BGS in 2012 (For more
information see
https://www.bgs.ac.uk/research/groundwater/international/africanGroundwater/mapsDow
nload.html )
Map   Description 
Groundwater  (aquifer)  The  groundwater  productivity  map  indicates  what 
productivity  borehole  yields  can  reasonably  be  expected  in  different 
hydrogeological units. The ranges indicate the approximate 
interquartile range of the yield of boreholes that have been 
sited and drilled using appropriate techniques. 
Groundwater storage   Groundwater  storage  was  estimated  by  combining 
estimates  of  saturated  aquifer  thickness  and  effective 
 
porosity  of  aquifers  across  Africa.  For  each  aquifer 
flow/storage type an effective porosity range was assigned 
based on a series of studies across Africa and surrogates in 
other parts of the world. 
Depth to groundwater  Depth  to  groundwater  was  modelled  using  an  empirical 
rules‐based  approach,  where  depth  to  groundwater  was 
assigned according to rainfall and aquifer type, as well as 
proximity to rivers. 
 

The Atlas country hydrogeology maps are a further development of the Africa-wide quantitative
groundwater maps released in 2012, using the hydrogeological understanding captured in those
maps, and where possible incorporating additional geological and hydrogeological information
from individual countries. They reflect current understanding of national geology and
hydrogeology, given the scale of the geological base map linework and the availability of
geological and hydrogeological information and, where possible, they reflect different national
approaches to geological and hydrogeological categorisation.
Where possible, the maps have been validated in collaboration with hydrogeologists from the
relevant countries who are co-authors on the relevant country pages of the Africa Groundwater
Atlas (co-authors are referenced on the relevant Atlas country page and on this page
http://earthwise.bgs.ac.uk/index.php/List_of_Authors).

2.4.1 Geology
Where relevant and possible, the geological classifications and descriptions in the Atlas country
maps have been developed further from the modified geological base map (Persits et al. 2002)
used to create the Africa-wide quantitative maps (MacDonald et al. 2010). Modifications were
made to reflect additional geological understanding and nomenclature at a country level. The main
modifications made are changes to geological formation names. Less often, changes were made to
classifications of geological age or lithology.

2.4.2 Hydrogeology
Where relevant and possible, the aquifer type and aquifer productivity classifications used in the
Africa-wide maps have been updated for the Atlas country maps, based on available
hydrogeological information and understanding for each country. The main modifications are
updates to the hydrogeological classifications based on new and/or more detailed available
information at a country scale. Wherever possible, the maps have been validated by co-authors of
the relevant country pages. The separate aquifer type and aquifer productivity classifications were

10
combined to produce a new hydrogeological classification, as described in the previous section
(Technical Information: Data and attribute field descriptions).

2.4.3 Clipping to country boundaries

The maps were clipped to each country using a digital map of country/national boundaries
provided by and used with permission of GADM (GADM Version 3.6, country level (Level 0)
boundaries).

2.5 MAP LEGENDS

Each shapefile is provided with layer files with separate map legends for geology and
hydrogeology. These legends use consistent colours to represent similar geological units (on the
basis of geological age and rock type) and similar hydrogeology (on the basis of aquifer type).
Within the legend colours used for the hydrogeology maps, stronger (brighter) colours represent
higher productivity aquifers and weaker (paler) colours represent lower productivity aquifers. The
colours used for any individual geological unit or aquifer in one country are not necessarily
identical to those for a similar aquifer in another country, but it is intended that similar enough
colours have been used to allow more easy comparison between similar hydrogeological
environments in different countries. A summary of the general legend colour schemes is given in
Table 5.

11
Table 5 Summary of colour schemes for geology and hydrogeology legends
Geology 
General geological age / rock type  Indicative colour 
Quaternary unconsolidated  Blue 
Tertiary or Tertiary‐Quaternary undivided sedimentary  Yellow 
(often dominantly unconsolidated)  
Cretaceous  sedimentary  (also  sometimes  Upper  Light Green 
Mesozoic‐Tertiary) 
Early Mesozoic sedimentary  Mid Green 
Palaeozoic sedimentary  Dark Green 
Karstic  sedimentary  or  limestone  (where  Turquoise Blue 
differentiated)  
Volcanic (all ages)  Bright Red 
Igneous intrusive or undivided  Mid Red  
Precambrian basement undifferentiated or craton  Mid Brown 
Precambrian Mobile/Orogenic Belt  Dark Brown 
Precambrian metasedimentary   Pale Pink 
Precambrian metavolcanics  Purple 
Hydrogeology 
Within these legend colours, stronger (brighter) colours represent higher productivity 
aquifers and weaker (paler) colours represent lower productivity aquifers. 
Aquifer type  Indicative colour 
Unconsolidated sedimentary  Blue 
Consolidated Sedimentary Fracture  Orange 
Consolidated Sedimentary Intergranular  Green 
Consolidated Sedimentary Intergranular/Fracture  Purple 
Consolidated Sedimentary Karst   Turquoise blue 
Igneous (Intrusive or Volcanic)  Red 
Basement  Brown 

12
 2.6 COVERAGE
Africa Groundwater Atlas country hydrogeology maps, Version 1.0, are currently available for 38
countries, as shown in Figure 1 and Table 6.

Figure 1 Countries for which Africa Groundwater Atlas country hydrogeology maps
(Version 1.0) are available

13
Table 6 Countries for which Africa Groundwater Atlas country hydrogeology maps
(Version 1.0) are available, with legend language
Country  Legend Language1 
Algeria  E, F 
Angola  E, P 
Benin  E, F 
Botswana  E 
Burkina Faso  E, F 
Cameroon  E, F 
Central African Republic  E, F 
Chad  E, F 
Cote d’Ivoire  E, F 
Democratic Republic of the Congo  E, F 
Djibouti  E, F 
Ethiopia  E 
Gabon  E, F 
Gambia  E 
Ghana  E 
Kenya  E 
Lesotho  E 
Madagascar  E, F 
Malawi  E 
Mali  E, F 
Mauritania  E, F 
Morocco   E, F 
Mozambique  E 
Niger  E, F 
Nigeria  E 
Republic of the Congo   E, F 
Senegal  E, F 
Sierra Leone  E 
Somalia  E 
South Sudan  E 
Sudan  E 
Tanzania  E   
Togo  E, F   
 
Tunisia  E, F 
 
Uganda  E   

Western Sahara   E, F   
 
Zambia  E   
Zimbabwe  E   
 
1
 E = English/anglais; F = French/français; P = Portuguese/Português 

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 2.7 LIMITATIONS
The Atlas country hydrogeology maps provide a national (country) scale overview of the
hydrogeology and geology, with geological categories that reflect significant hydrogeological
units. They are suitable for viewing at sizes from A2 down to A6, depending on the size of the
country (see the section Map Scale, above). They are not suitable for providing detailed
information on geology and hydrogeology at a sub-national (e.g. catchment) scale.
Like all maps, the country hydrogeology maps are a two-dimensional representation of the
complex three-dimensional hydrogeological reality. In most cases, the maps show the uppermost
aquifer only. If there are other aquifers at depth, these are not shown. In some cases, where a major
aquifer is overlain by relatively low permeability unconsolidated sediments (that don't form an
important aquifer), the overlying unconsolidated sediments are not shown on the map.
The maps reflect current understanding of national geology and hydrogeology, given the scale of
the geological base map linework and availability of geological and hydrogeological information.
Because the maps reflect hydrogeological and geological terminology used in individual countries,
the names and descriptions of hydrogeological or geological units that cross country (national)
borders may not agree on both sides of the border (resulting in some country border ‘edges’ that
have different colours/attribution).
The maps do not necessarily show the same information as other hydrogeology or geology maps
available for any country.

2.8 FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

The Atlas country hydrogeology maps (Version 1.0) may be updated in future. Any future updates
will be made via the BGS website and supporting information provided.

2.9 FEEDBACK
Feedback from users is always welcome. Please provide any feedback, and report any errors or
problems, to [email protected] .

3 Licensing Information
The maps are released under a Creative Commons ‘Attribution/Share Alike’ (CC BY SA) licence.
Under this licence, users are free to share and adapt the maps for any purpose, including
commercially, but when sharing must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the licence and
indicate if you have made any changes to the maps. If you make any changes to the maps and share
the resulting creations, you must share them under the same licence (i.e. Creative Commons
‘Attribution/Share Alike CC BY SA). You may not apply legal terms or technological measures
that legally restrict other from doing anything that this licence permits. For more information see
Creative Commons ‘Attribution/Share Alike’ (CC BY SA).
Additional permissions are granted as follows:
Esri (Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc)
The Africa Groundwater Atlas Hydrogeology Country Maps include some linework defining
coasts that was created using Esri© data, used with permission of Esri©, as follows:
Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Esri) grants to British Geological Survey, 
a personal, nonexclusive, non‐transferable, royalty‐free, license and permission to use, 
copy, reproduce, redistribute, and publicly display the mapping (including in shapefile 
format) as represented by the referenced images in the original request, (herein after 

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 the “Images”) created using Esri ®,  ArcGIS® for  use in an upcoming British Geological 
Survey  online  resource  entitled  The  Africa  Groundwater  Atlas,  published  by  British 
Geological Survey from October 2018 ‐ March 2020, published in downloadable digital, 
shapefile, and GIS‐ enabled  versions, with worldwide distribution. 
Use of the mapping as represented by the Images is contingent upon proper copyright 
attribution being provided to Esri and its contributors. In the event that a user prepares 
a  derivative  work  of  the  screenshots,  the  user  shall  remove  the  copyright  attribution 
notice. 
Used  with  permission  under  a  CCBY‐SA  license.  Copyright  ©  2018  Esri,  ArcGIS,  British 
Geological  Survey,  United  States  Geological  Survey,  and  the  GIS  User  Community.  All 
rights reserved. 
GADM
The Africa Groundwater Atlas Country Hydrogeology Maps were clipped to each country using
the country level (level 0) boundaries of GADM Version 3.6, used with permission of GADM.

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References
British Geological Survey holds most of the references listed below, and copies may be obtained
via the library service subject to copyright legislation (contact [email protected] for details). The
library catalogue is available at: https://envirolib.apps.nerc.ac.uk/olibcgi.

Bonsor H C and MacDonald A M. 2010a. Groundwater and climate change in Africa : review of aquifer properties data. British
Geological Survey Internal Report IR/10/076. http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/501776/
Bonsor H C and MacDonald A M. 2010b. Groundwater and climate change in Africa : review of recharge studies. British
Geological Survey Internal Report IR/10/075. http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/501776/
Bonsor H C and MacDonald A M. 2011. An initial estimate of depth to groundwater across Africa. British Geological Survey Open
Report OR/11/067. http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/17907/
Furon R and Lombard J. 1964. Explanatory note: Geological Map of Africa (1/5,000,000) / Note explicative: carte geologique de
l'Afrique (1/5,000,000). UNESCO and the Association for African Geological Surveys (ASGA). UNESCO, Paris, 1964. 
MacDonald A M, Ó Dochartaigh B É, Bonsor H C, Davies J and Key R. 2010. Developing quantitative aquifer maps for
Africa. British Geological Survey Internal Report IR/10/103. http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/501779/
MacDonald A M, Bonsor H C, Ó Dochartaigh B É and Taylor R G. 2012. Quantitative maps of groundwater resources in
Africa. Environmental Research Letters, 7 (2), 024009. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/7/2/024009
Persits F, Ahlbrandt T, Tuttle M, Charpentier R, Brownfield M, and Takahashi K. 2002. Map showing geology, oil and gas fields
and geologic provinces of Africa, Ver 2.0. USGS Open File report 97-470 A.
USGS. 2002. Surficial geology of Africa (geo7_2ag). Shapefile for download.
https://certmapper.cr.usgs.gov/geoportal/catalog/search/resource/details.page?uuid=%7BC7E34C48-9BD9-45C6-AD08-
E549CFB3715A%7D . Accessed 11 March 2019.

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