The results of the study of groundwater in selected volcanic regions (the Aragats volcanic massif in the Republic of Armenia as a study case
Significance. Lake Sevan, the artesian basin of the Ararat valley and the Aragats volcanic massif are considered the main freshwater basins in the Republic of Armenia. Aragats is one of the main carriers of fresh groundwater in the Republic of Armenia. In addition, the Aragats mountain range is one of the main fresh water basins for the capital of Armenia, Yerevan. This makes the study of fresh waters in this basin an extremely relevant and urgent topic for research in the field of hydrogeology and engineering geophysics. Methods. For a scientifically substantiated solution to the problem of groundwater development in the volcanic regions of the Armenia highlands, we have reinterpreted and generalized the data of long-term comprehensive studies carried out in the volcanic regions, in particular in the Aragats massif. According to geophysical surveys by the method of vertical sounding (VES) and data from boreholes, we have compiled a relief map of the regional water confinement (paleo relief) on a scale of 1 to 50.000 for the Aragats massif. Results. The formation of movement and distribution of underground waters of the Aragats massif are considered in sufficient detail resulting in a physical hydrogeological model of the massif. Many features of the physical-geological model are common to most volcanic regions, including the Aragats massif. The revealed patterns of zoning in the distribution of electrical parameters and an integrated approach to processing geophysical data made it possible to obtain objective and reliable cartographic material on the distribution of groundwater resources in the main basins of the massif.