Abstract
Geochemical investigation of the soils around quarry and barite mine sites in part of Akamkpa and Biase area of Southeastern Nigeria, was carried out to assess the concentration and enrichment levels of some heavy metals and trace elements in the soils. The investigation involved the collection of fifteen (15) soil samples between the depth of 15 - 30 cm. The samples were dried at room temperature, prepared and analyzed for heavy metals using inductively couple plasma mass spectrometer. The result shows that the concentration of Co, Cr, Nb, Pb and Sn were higher than the average shale values around the quarries while Ba, Pb and Sn were higher around the barite mines. The contamination factor indicates low to minimal contamination and low to considerable contamination around the quarries and barite mines respectively. While the Enrichment factor indicates minimal to significant enrichment around the quarries and minimal to extremely high enrichments around the barite mines. The result of the factor analysis and spatial distribution of the heavy metals suggests that the metal concentration and enrichment were controlled by the rock types, weathering and anthropogenic activities around the mine sites.
Highlights
IntroductionThe quest for knowledge and comfort by humans has led to advances in technology and exploitation of the earth’s resources, leading to a change from natural cycling of elements, to the anthropogenic addition of heavy metals in soils, water and air
The result shows that, all the heavy metals were below the average shale values, except Ba and Sn which are greater in both quarry and barite mine areas and Co, Cr and Nb which are greater in the quarry area and Pb which is greater in the barite area
The investigation revealed that the average concentration of (Ba, Co, Cr, Nb and Sn) and (Ba, Pb and Sn) are greater than the average shale value in the quarry and barite mine areas respectively
Summary
The quest for knowledge and comfort by humans has led to advances in technology and exploitation of the earth’s resources, leading to a change from natural cycling of elements, to the anthropogenic addition of heavy metals in soils, water and air. Mining activities have released large quantities of trace elements, volatiles and dust particles into the environment, creating potential health and environmental problems. Barite mining and quarrying activities have been going on in the Biase and Akampka area for more than two decades, leading to possible release of toxic heavy metals in the area. High levels of heavy metals concentration have been reported around mining district globally (Rafiei et al, 2010; Bölücek, 2007; Sun et al, 2018; Huang et al, 2017) and the health risk associated with high metal concentration on the environment has been reported (Rahman et al, 2010; Tian, 2009; Oancea et al, 2005; Singh & Kalamdhad, 2011)
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