Abstract
Geochemical survey of residual soils was undertaken in Dagbala-Atte District of Igarra Schist Belt, southwestern Nigeria to explore for base and precious metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Au and Ag). It involved sampling residual soil from 49 sites in a grid pattern; analyzing the soil samples for the base and precious metals and other commonly associated elements including As, Cd, Fe, Hg and Sb; subjecting the geochemical data generated to statistical analysis; and preparing the geochemical distribution map of the district for each element. On the basis of the multivariate statistical analysis (correlation matrix and factor analysis) of the soil geochemical data, three mineralization types were inferred to be present in the district. The suspected types of mineralization consist of: 1) Cu-Pb-Zn-Ag mineralization with associated As, Hg, Sb and Fe; 2) Au-Cu mineralization with associated As; and 3) minor Hg-bearing Au-Pb mineralization. With the aid of the elemental geochemical distribution maps, the suspected mineralization was linked to rock types from which the sampled residual soils were apparently derived. Hence, the suspected Cu-Pb-Zn-Ag mineralization is linked to the quartz-biotite schist at the southwestern part of the district while the suspected Au-Cu mineralization is located on the silicified sheared rock at the northern and southern parts and the minor Hg-bearing Au-Pb mineralization within the granitic gneiss at the northeastern and eastern areas of the district. Based on the foregoing findings, it is recommended that lithogeochemical survey for the base and precious metals should be done in the area.
Highlights
On the basis of high potential for metallic mineralization of the Paleoproterozoic Schist Belts in northern Nigeria [1] [2] [3] [4] which are similar to the Igarra Schist Belt in southern Nigeria, the Postgraduate Mineral Exploration Research Group of the Applied Geology Department, the Federal University of Technology, Akure initiated a geochemical exploration program of the Igarra Schist Belt area
Geochemical survey of residual soils was undertaken in Dagbala-Atte District of Igarra Schist Belt, southwestern Nigeria to explore for base and precious metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Au and Ag)
Geochemical soil survey for base and precious metals was undertaken in Dagbala-Atte District by sampling residual soil from 49 sites in a grid pattern
Summary
On the basis of high potential for metallic mineralization of the Paleoproterozoic Schist Belts in northern Nigeria [1] [2] [3] [4] which are similar to the Igarra Schist Belt in southern Nigeria, the Postgraduate Mineral Exploration Research Group of the Applied Geology Department, the Federal University of Technology, Akure initiated a geochemical exploration program of the Igarra Schist Belt area. The program commenced with regional stream sediment survey which detected anomalous concentrations of base and precious metals among others around Dagbala and Atte areas [5] [6] [7]. The step in the planned geochemical survey of the belt is to follow up these stream sediment anomalies by tracing them to their possible land sources because environmental contamination around Dagbala and Atte has been ruled out based on pollution studies carried out by [8] [9] in the area. The present aspect of the research program is to conduct a soil geochemical survey of the Dagbala-Atte area for base and precious metals which showed up in anomalous values in the stream sediments of the area [6] [7]. The principal objective of this study is to locate the possible source(s) of the metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Au and Ag) in the residual soils of the study area
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