Assessment and distribution of the concentration of potentially harmful trace elements (PHTEs) is
Previous geochemical investigation of Ayetoro area discovered that its coastal sediments are enriched with sulphide mineralization. However, in order to determine the geochemical phases of the heavy metals in the coastal sediments, random sampling method was utilized across 10 locations, at a depth of 40cm using Van grab sampler at a sampling density of 200m interval. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) Buck Scientific Model 205A was used to analyze nine (9) heavy metal concentrations namely Ni, Zn, Co, Mn, Fe, Pb, Cr, Cd and Cu in the coastal sediments, followed by sequential extraction of the metals, using five fractional phases. The results revealed that the geochemical concentration of the heavy metals as follows: Ni (5.89ppm - 16.82ppm), Zn (2.59ppm - 115.65ppm.), Co (1.22ppm - 22.77ppm), Mn (30.95ppm - 186.49ppm), Fe (6.632ppm - 1925.96ppm), Pb (5.17ppm - 55.96ppm), Cr (0.26ppm - 28.06ppm), Cd (0.13ppm -22.23ppm), and Cu (2.26ppm - 41.94ppm) and showed the concentration order as Residual>Reducible>Organic>Exchangeable>Carbonate. Most of the heavy metals in carbonate and exchangeable phase have low concentration except for Cd. This implied that Cd is of low mobility and bioavailability which is very dangerous as its intake by man leads to kidney diseases and causes bones to become weaker. Also, Mobility factor of Cd stood out because of its high concentration in the exchangeable phase compared to other four non-residual phases. The mobility and bioavailability of the heavy metals are in this order: Cd>Co>Ni>Pb>Cr>Mn>Cu>Zn>Fe respectively. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that the heavy metals are significantly different in all the phases based on their accumulation index in the sediments while majority of the heavy metals lacked the ability to remobilize but can be released into the environment under reducing and oxidizing conditions.
This paper analyses remotely sensed data over a part of the Psammitic Rocks in Efon-Alaaye and Environs to elucidate its geology and structural framework as well as delineate the potential zones of mineralization. The study area belongs to the Precambrian Basement Complex terrain of Southwestern Nigeria and lies within the eastern unit of the Ilesha schist belt. The lithologic units comprise schistose quartzites, quartz schists, quartz-mica-schists, and granitic gneisses. Landsat 8 satellite imagery and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission imagery (SRTM), both of path 190 and row 055, were used for the purpose of this study. A total of 138 lineaments of total length of 147.948 Km, were automatically extracted from both data. Rose diagram showed that the lineaments are bi-directional, with major lineaments trending NE-SW, E-W and the subsidiary ones in the NW-SE direction. These lineaments are mostly mapped on the schistose quartzites. Also, N-S trending faults were mapped from the Digital Elevation Model map generated from the SRTM data which was confirmed to be reverse fault based on field studies. The mineral alteration map generated revealed signatures of gold, iron oxides and silica minerals, while the mineralization potential map was done with reference to established geological settings of the area in conjunction with the structural elements such as folds, faults, joints and fractures mapped and measured on the field. These structures are typical of gold mineralization and associated metallic minerals in the Ilesha schist belt. This study also confirmed that mineralization in the study area is structurally controlled and type of mineralization is epigenetic in nature as a result of favorable ground preparation.
The south-eastern part of Ilesha Schist belt which comprises of (Ogotun,Ikeji-Ile and Ipetu-the study area has been totally neglected by previous researchers without any literatures that could serve as clues to mineral exploration in the study area which necessitate this research. Geological mapping was undertaken to determine the underlying rocks followed by systematic sampling at one rock per 3.25km2, petrographic and geochemical analysis of the rocks. The results of field examination confirmed the existence of migmatite-gneisses, quartzites, quartz-schists, meta-conglomerates and porphyritic granites as the dominant rocks while petrographic studies revealed quartz, biotite, feldspar (microcline and plagioclase) and opaque minerals. However, five rocks samples whose thin sections showed opaque minerals were viewed under the reflecting light microscope and a brassy yellow mineral called chalcopyrite was confirmed. Geochemical analytical results revealed that SiO2 (67.37%-62.46%) and Al2O3 (17.35%-11.62%) have higher concentrations, indicating the aluminosilicate nature of the rocks. The trace elemental analysis revealed very high concentrations of Ba (2533-10) ppm and Fe (55000-4100) ppm, followed by moderate to low and very low concentrations of Cu (38.40-12.50) ppm, Pb (.90-39.40) ppm, Zn (156.00-7.00) ppm, Co (65.20-1.40) ppm, Mn (148.00-981.00) ppm,, As (1.00-3.00) ppm, Th (0.50-10.00) ppm, Rb (311.60-50) ppm ,Cr (1310.-5.00) ppm and U (>0.1-6.3) ppm. Similarly, the principal component analysis (PCA) of the rocks revealed Cu-Pb-Zn-Mn-Fe mineral associations with 35.24% also confirmed massive sulphide mineralization. Therefore, the overall results indicated the potentials of the study area to be possibly enriched with other hidden ore deposits and radioactive minerals.
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