Lithostratigraphy and geochemical characterization of limestone deposits around Kushimaga Area in Yobe Of North-Eastern Nigeria

Abstract

This study presents detailed petrographic and chemical compositional characteristic of limestone deposits for possible industrial uses and specifications. The study area falls within the Gongola basin, Northeastern Nigeria. Core limestone samples were collected from four boreholes at the depth of approximately 25 metres each in Kushimaga area around Gulani in Yobe state; northeastern Nigeria. Lithological units were observed in the following sequence; topsoil and clay with an average thickness of 1.513m, limestone 5.553m, shale 7.853m respectively. Eleven limestone samples were selected from the boreholes for petrography and chemical analysis (Fluorescence Spectroscopy analysis). From the petrograhic studies the limestone samples are composed (visual estimate) of over 95% calcite, trace amounts of colourless already recrystallized fossil of planktonic forams and mollusc, weakly deformed greenish grains of glauconite about 0.2 to 0.3 mm in grain size, traces of opaque, isotropic, high relief iron oxide minerals with 0.03 to 0.5 mm grains sizes are present disseminated in the form of limonite. Traces of quartz and feldspar grains of silt size class were also noted in thin sections. With less than 10% grains the samples are classified as mudstone. The results of chemical analyses of limestone shows a range values of SiO2, 10.05wt% to 32.00wt% , CaO, 21.00wt% to 53.99wt%, MgO, 0.35wt% to 1.00wt%, Al2O3, 2.15wt% to 12.69wt%, Fe2O3, 1.28wt% to 4.90wt%, Na2O, 0.002wt% to 0.18wt%, K2O, 0.9wt% to 1.96wt%, TiO2, 0.21wt% to 1.00wt%, P2O5, 0.17wt% to 0.69wt%, MnO, 0.21wt% to 0.55wt%, loss on ignition, 21.98% to 36.87%, while the result of chemical classification of the limestone show a range of Ca/Mg, 23.33% to 125.68% and Mg/Ca, 0.00% to 0.04% of the Kushimaga limestone. However, the limestone beds of the research area were compared with other standard chemical industrial specifications. The study revealed that the limestone around Kushimaga area satisfies the chemical factors for Portland cement production but falls below the standard chemical specifications for other industrial uses; glass, sugar and Paint pigments and filler productions.

Geochemical assessment of carbonate and clay rocks for the cement industry: a case study from Gabal Akheider, Ain Sukhna area, north-west Gulf of Suez, Egypt

“…Also, the Al 2 O 3 ranges from 0.06 to 0.47% in all limestone of Sannor Formation. The low alumina content indicates a low index of weathering of the aluminosilicates in the adjacent basement areas during transportation and deposition (Brand and Veizer, 1983), and suggests a low energy depositional environment (Usman et al, 2018). The Sannor limestone have low content of Na 2 O, (0.03-0.05%) in contrast to the modern limestone's in which Na 2 O is up to 3,000 ppm, while it decreases in ancient limestone is owing to meteoric water diagenesis (Land and Hoops, 1973).…”

Terrain analysis for environmental sustainability in Taraba Central Senatorial Districts, North-East, Nigeria

“…Table 5 shows the characteristics of each of the soil units within the study area. [30][31][32][33][34][35]…”

Radiological Health Risk Assessment at Ashaka Cement Company, Gombe State, Nigeria

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