Integrated Geological and Geophysical Investigation of Al-Shout Valley, Saudi Arabia

This study of the subsurface conditions within a fluvial system impacted by the Red Sea rift tectonics offers an integration of geological and geophysical observations from Al-Shout Valley in western Saudi Arabia. Two primary fracture orientations are revealed by structural measurements, suggesting regional tectonic control. While Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) data define the transition from unconsolidated sediments to gravel layers and underlying bedrock, high-resolution Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) profiles show varying sediment thickness and shallow subsurface heterogeneity. The significant sediment variability and a strong tectonic influence on the valley evolution are shown by the combined dataset. These findings will advance our knowledge of near-surface architecture and fluvial stratigraphy in environments associated with arid rifts.