Abstract
This study becomes imperative in order to determine the degree of soil contamination due to iron-ore mining. Ten surface soil samples were collected and analyzed for major ions and heavy metals during the dry season. Average cation concentration observed was: Ca>K>Na>Mg while the heavy metal average were: Fe>Ni>Cd>Zn>Cu>Pb. The regression analysis result indicates generally weak associations among the variables though moderate relationships were observed between Ni-K, Pb-Mg, Pb-Fe and Zn-Cu. Five indices were used for data evaluation: Anthropogenic Factor (AF), Index of Geo-accumulation (Igeo), Enrichment Factor (EF), Contamination Factor (CF) and Pollution Load Index (PLI). Except EF which gave the order of enrichment: Fe>Ni>Pb>Cu>Zn>Cd, AF, Igeo and CF reveals this order of contamination: Fe>Pb>Ni>Cu>Zn>Cd. PLI shows that the locations experienced various degrees of deterioration in this order: ITK14>ITK10>ITK04>ITK02> ITK01>ITK07>ITK06>ITK05 (ITK17) >ITK03. R-mode factor analysis suggests that factor one is due to natural and anthropogenic influence while factors two and four are due to natural processes. Factor three points to anthropogenic origin. Q mode factor reveals anthropogenic factor as the dominant influence. R-mode cluster indicates that cluster four is anthropogenic and three natural while clusters two and three are a mixture of natural and anthropogenic sources. Q-mode cluster analysis shows that clusters one, two and three are directly influenced by iron ore mining while four were not. The soils around Itakpe iron ore have experienced various degrees of contamination particularly with reference to Fe, Pb and Ni and locations ITK14, ITK10, ITK04, ITK02 and ITK01. This area needs to be reclaimed and soils treated appropriately while further and a detailed study on the ecosystem is recommended.
Highlights
The Nigerian Steel Development Authority (NSDA) was established to explore and exploit iron ore deposits in Nigeria
The correlation relationship among the cations is less significant in most cases and negative except the moderate relationship (r = 0.518) observed between CaK
The regression relationship between the heavy metals and major cations are low and weak but moderate relationship exist between K-Ni, Mg-Pb and strong relation between Fe-Ca
Summary
The Nigerian Steel Development Authority (NSDA) was established to explore and exploit iron ore deposits in Nigeria. The NSDA reported the discovery of an iron ore deposit at Itakpe ridge, Okene, Kogi State in 1975. This iron ore deposit has proven and estimated reserves of 250,000,000 and 400,000,000 tones respectively. The Itakpe iron ore deposit is located approximately 16 km northeast of Okene and forms the impressive of a series of iron-bearing quartzites ridge in the area. Correlation coefficient (Table 2) of all the parameters shows that moderate correlation (r = 0.60.7) exists between these pairs of parameters: Ca-Fe, Mg-Pb, Fe-Pb, Cu-Zn. Weak correlations (r = 0.4 - 0.5) were observed between K-Ca, K-Cd, Ca-Zn, Ca-Cd, F-.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Research Journal of Environmental and Earth Sciences
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
