EFFECTS OF TIN MINING ACTIVITIES ON THE SOILS IN PINGEL AND ENVIRONS, TORO, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NORTHEASTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

Tin mining have long attracted the interest of geologist because of the economic significance and serious impact on mankind. There is paucity of empirical information on Tin mining effect in Pingel and its Environs. Hence, this study examines the effect of Tin mining activities on the soils of Pingel and Environs, Toro, LGA Local Government Area, Bauchi State Nigeria. Eight (8) rock samples were analysed under petrographic studies and seven (7) different soil samples were collected using hand trovel at four different locations namely Mana, Pingel, Doka and Kulfana. The laboratory analysis includes: Thin sectioning, petrographic analysis, geochemical analysis (X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (XRF)), Focus group discussion (FGD), questionnaires and health data were captured as supportive tool of the research. The geochemical analysis reveals that 36 trace and rare elements were found in the soil sample with high concentration values of copper, zinc, lead, and zircon ranging between 170 to 300, 79 to 3850, 80 to1000, 50300 to 650ppm while the lowest is the analysis is serilium (Se) with concentration value range between 0.0006 to 0.0001. The study further examines the human perception of human to tin mining; their health aspect was particularly captured. The study concludes that there are a lot of contaminations and pollution which occur as a result of tin mining activities in the study area. The impact of heavy metals in the soils has adversely affected the livelihood of the localities, which call for attention in the present research. These explains how each of these elements pose danger to human health when consumed excessively through their drinking water or other means resulting to serious diseases such as; liver damage, elephantiasis, high fever in children, loss of pregnancies, behavioral effect. Therefore, more efficient and better practices such as soil basins and traps should be designed in the mining sites to prevent the heavy metals from moving to further distance, awareness to the localities about what they eat especially their drinking water which is an easy contagious substance and finally, government should come to the aid of the environment to embark a policy that will bring an end to these problems. Hospitals, schools and good roads should be constructed before the commencement of any mining activities in the area.