Global Journal of Geological Sciences

Wet season physicochemical characteristics of the cross river estuary, southeast, nigeria

Chimezie Ndunagum Emeka — 2023-08-23

The physico-chemical properties of the lower reaches of the Cross River estuary were studied in the wet season month of September, 2011. A total of 50 bottom water samples were obtained using a Nansen Bottom Water Sampler, at 50 geo-referenced stations within the channel. Depth measurements were simultaneously taken at each station using an echo-sounder, while turbidity was measured using a secchi-disc. Temperature, salinity and pH were analysed for each sample, using a HANNA hand held combo meter (HI 98129). Within the channel, bottom water temperature ranged between 23 and 30°C, turbidity (transparency) ranged between 30 and 100 cm, pH ranged between 5 and 9, while bottom water salinity ranged between 0.15 and 0.20 ‰. Based on salinity, the channel was divided into 3 physico-chemical facies: the Upper Facies is fairly saline, characterized by temperatures ranging from 25 to 26°C, is the least turbid segment of the channel and isalkaline the Middle Facies, the least saline part of the channel, characterized by temperatures ranging from 24 to 29°C, most turbid, and neutral,; and the Lower Facies, the most saline portion of the channel, with temperatures ranging from 25 to 29°C, is the more, acidic, part of the channel. The estuary appeared to have been greatly diluted. This may be attributed to the fact that the study was carried out during the rainy season. As a result of the high freshwater discharge into the channel during this season, the freshwater-brackishwater interface has been driven further downstream, towards the Atlantic Ocean

Petrology Of Intrusive Rocks Of Oban Massif, Southeastern Nigeria

Edem Grace O — 2024-01-16

A total of forty- nine (49) fresh rock samples of the various intrusive rocks (granitoids and dolerites)were collected from the field. These rocks intruded metamorphic rocks that include pyllites, schists, gneisses and amphibolites in the Oban Massif. Intrusive rocks pegmatitic granites and granodiorite exhibit porphyritic texture rich in feldspars, quartz, muscovite, biotite, tourmaline and beryl. The granodiorite contains xenoliths of metamorphic rocks. The dolerites are ophitic and composed of plagioclase, olivine and pyroxene. From the geochemical analyses, the intrusive rocks show SiO₂to be the most abundant chemical component in all the rock units with its highest value recorded in the pegmatitic granite (Av. 70.07%), while the lowest value (59.68%) recorded in the dolerite. Al₂O₃ also display high concentration in rocks of Oban Massif. The rocks have concentrations of Al₂O₃> (CaO + Na₂O + K₂O), low MgO, and TiO₂ concentrations while pegmatitic granites exhibit low concentration in FeO_Total. The alkaline and calc-alkaline, granitoid intrusives in the study area were found to be I-type crustal orogenic granitoids that represent a late stage intrusion along major shear and thrust zones.The results of trace elements analysis revealed that almost all the intrusive rocks of Oban Massif contain high Ba content, the highest values occur in the pegmatitic granite with a mean concentration of (2266ppm), while meladiorite was found to contain the least amount of Ba (44ppm).

Dry season physicochemical characteristics of a tropical meso-tidal estuary: cross river estuary, southeast nigeria

Chimezie Ndunagum Emeka — 2023-08-23

The Cross River estuary is a tide-dominated coastal plain estuary which empties into the Atlantic Ocean at the Bight of Biafra, Gulf of Guinea. It receives fresh water from major tributaries including Calabar, Great Kwa, Akpa-Yafe, Mbo and Little Kwa rivers; and plays a significant role in anthropogenic activities such as fishing exploitation and commerce. This research focuses on the assessment data from the hydrodynamic variability of the Cross River estuary. Data from April 2017 to March 2018 were generated from monitoring tidal current velocity in the estuary as well as the tidal variations under spring and neap tidal conditions. The result shows that the average current velocity in the water column was 0.85 m/s during flood tides and 0.96 m/s during ebb tides. Residual currents were observed to be seaward, with ebb dominance. In-situ measurements of physicochemical parameters including dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, salinity, density and transparency were recorded at 55 geo-referenced sampling stations throughout the estuary in the dry season month of January, 2018. Further to this, salinity, temperature and pH varied from 0 – 20 ppt; 27.9-31.4°C; 5.4-8.4 respectively, and in increased seaward direction. The relationship between physicochemical parameters were interpreted using Pearson’s Correlation Matrix. Here, salinity showed significant correlations (p<0.05) with pH while density showed significant correlations with temperature, salinity and pH (add reasons). This research study reveals that changes in tidal cycles and current velocity are important factors contributing to the observed variations in physicochemical properties of the Cross River estuary and thus, useful for effective monitoring of the estuary and similar meso-tidal systems.

Pebble morphometry and sieve analysis: tools in determining the depositional environments of sediments in oron and environs

Romeo A Ojong — 2023-08-23

Pebble morphometry and grain size analysis were carried out in parts of Benin Formation exposed along Oron and environs to determine the depositional environment of the sediments. Quartz pebbles (900 pebbles) collected from 60 different locations around stream channels and quarries were subjected to axial measurement of long (L), short (S) and intermediate (I) axis. Fifteen (15) sediments were further subjected to sieve analysis. Results from morphometric studies shows that the pebbles are dominantly compact-bladed (CB) and elongate (E) with mean values for flatness ratio (FR), elongation ratio (ER), maximum projection sphericity index (MPSI), oblate-prolate index (OPI) and braided ratio (BR) as 0.48, 0.61, 0.67, 3.54 and 0.63 respectively with mean roundness value of 32%. Sieve analysis revealed that the sediments are dominantly medium-grained, well sorted, skewed to near symmetrical and leptokurtic to mesokurtic. Bivariate Plots of roundness versus elongation ratio, sphericity versus OP index, FI versus MPSI, and skewness versus sorting indicates deposition of the sediments predominantly in the fluvial environment. Thus, this study showed that the sediments in Benin Formation were deposited by fluvial depositional processes.

Green remediation and enhanced metal accumulation using moringa oleifera leaf extracts and hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms in crude oil-impacted soils of the niger delta, nigeria

Ekpo P B — 2023-08-23

This emerging technology called “Phytoremediation” which uses plants to remove pollutants from the environment is preferred over traditional methods, because it offers site restoration, partial decontamination, and maintenance of biological activity and physical structure whilst being potentially cheap, visually unobtrusive and with a possibility of bio-recovery of metals. Because of these advantages, phytoremediation is considered as a 'green', sustainable pollution removal process. The present study was designed to evaluate Phytoremediation potential of Moringa oleifera leaf extract on soil contaminated with Spent Engine Oil. Top soil (0-15cm depth) was randomly collected and 5kg each of the composite samples were transferred into fifty (50) plastic buckets with drainage holes at the base, plugged with cotton wool to retain the soil. The Plastic buckets were arranged into five treatment groups with Ten (10) replicates each. The polythene bags were arranged in a completely randomized block design. Spent Engine oil obtained from mechanic shops in Bedwell Calabar, Cross River State, was applied as the pollutant. The Spent engine oil was introduced at different concentration levels (0.3, 0.5, 0.7, and 1.0 l/5kg) into the treatment groups apart from the control (0.0 l/5kg).The results across the various treatment levels where subjected to statistical analysis, using Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the results showed that physicochemical parameters (soil pH and organic carbon), Heavy Metals present, Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon and Microbial Counts were significantly higher (P<0.05) in treatment groups than the control. The result also showed a significant reduction (P<0.05) of the Total petroleum hydrocarbon after treatment.

Joint Studies In The Western Part Of Ikom-Mamfe Basin, Lower Benue Trough, Nigeria

Charles I Umagu — 2023-11-30

The Ikom-Mamfe basin, also called the Mamfe embayment, is a bifurcation of the Benue trough in southeastern Nigeria and southwestern Cameroun. The basin is about 130km long, 60km wide basin and is filled with about 4km thick sedimentary rocks. Deformational events led to gentle folding of rocks in the basin and emplacement of magmatic rocks. Systematic and detailed field studies were carried out in eight (8) locations within the study area, in which the orientations of 1437 joints and 102 veins were acquired. Two sets of orthogonal joints observed in the study exhibited symmetry with respect to the directions of the fold axes and were dominated by high-angle dips averaging about 80^o. This implies a syntectonic origin of these structures also during their propagation, the maximum principal stress directions (σ₁) were orientated in two different directions NW- SE and NNE-SSW for D_I and D₂ respectively. The relative strength of deformation during D_I was greater than D₂ and it was also unfolded that the ‘ac’ extension joints trending NW- SE and NNE-SSW hosted relatively thicker veins in both D_I and D₂. These joints served as better conduits for mineralizing fluids and also most suitable directions for future prospecting.

Size Distribution And Heavy Mineral Pattern In Some E Gbe Streams, Southwestern Nigeria

Aderogbin Joseph Ayofe — 2024-01-16

The Egbe-Isanlu schist belt has received scholarly attention from several researchers but there is no documented report on types and the distribution of heavy minerals in streams of the area. This study is intended to reveal the types of heavy minerals, the distribution and possible source rocks to guide prospectors in gems. The study area lies within latitude 08^o 03' and 08^o16 ' and longitude 05^o 31' and 05^o43’ of the Southwestern Basement Complex terrain in Nigeria. Fifteen stream sediment samples were collected at appropriate points along river channels, air dried at room temperature, sieved and subjected to heavy mineral separation process using bromoform. Graphic mean, sorting, skewness and kurtosis were determined and heavy minerals identified under microscope. The graphic mean ranges between 0.67 (coarse sand) to 2.49 (fine sand), skewness between 0.75 and -0.10 and Kurtosis between 0.87 and 1.88. The calculated ZTR index ranges between 6.86% and 3.35.0%. The identified heavy minerals in the study area included tourmaline, epidote, rutile, zircon, kyanite, staurolite, garnet and zeolite. These minerals are modernly distributed across the sampled area and in some locations, they are relatively high in abundance. Some of the heavy minerals are angular to sub-angular in shape suggesting a short distance of travel from source. The graphic mean gives values that suggests a moderately to poorly sorted sediment and skewness indicated a platykurtic and leptokurtic nature for the sediments. Calculated ZTR index classified the sediments as immature to sub-mature indicating a short distance of travel suggesting that the sediments could have been derived within the catchment area. The presence of zircon, tourmaline and rutile suggests that the sediments might probably have its source from acid intrusive rocks and pegmatites.

Groundwater Flow Model Part Of Sokoto-Rima Hydrological Basin, Northwestern Nigeria

Shuaibu A M — 2023-11-30

The aim of this work is to model the groundwater system of Zamfara part of Sokoto-Rima hydrological basin, under three objectives which are to evaluate the water budget, assess the interaction between surface water and groundwater, and to predict the temporal and spatial distribution of groundwater head and groundwater flow. MODFLOW-NWT, which is a Newtonian formulation for MODFLOW-2005, was used in the study. The result of sensitivity analysis revealed groundwater (RCH), evapotranspiration (EVT) and hydraulic conductivity (HKZ) had the highest composite scales. The water budget of the calibrated model showed that groundwater recharge was 5,571,293 m³ d^-1, contributing 65.7% of total inflow (8,478,903 m³d^-1) to the aquifer. Inflow from river seepage represented 30.7% of the total inflow to the aquifer by 2,597,995 m³ d^-1 while seepage from the general head boundary contributed 3.7% of the inflow to the aquifer by 309,615 m³ d^-1. The outflow quantification of the aquifer showed that 75.8% (6,428,824 m³ d^-1) of the total outflow was accounted to by evapotranspiration, the remaining 15 % (1,273,747 m³ d^-1) outflow represented the river recharge, 8.6% (730,656 m³ d^-1) to general head boundary (GBH), and 0.5% (45,678 m³ d^-1) by pumping wells from the aquifer. Simulated groundwater level ranges between 202.9 m. asl and 688.5 m. asl, with an average level of 414.14 m. asl. Groundwater Flow model results indicated that the topography and geologic structures control groundwater flow in the study area and that base flow to river is an important factor moderating groundwater movement. This implies that the study area currently has sufficient groundwater resources to meet the demand, despite its fragile climate condition.