Properties of Mine Soils in a Forested Hilly Terrain of Southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

Soils of a mine site at Leru, Abia State, Nigeria were characterized and classified for proper usage .A transect survey technique was employed in which a traverse was cut to link soils affected by mining to the unaffected soils in the area. Soil profile pits were dug described and sampled using standard techniques. Routine laboratory analyses were conducted on soil samples for selected soil properties. Soil data were subjected to mean statistic. Results indicated increasing sandiness and hulk densi1 in the epipedons closest to the mine site. Mean value of soil moisture in un-mined site (149.8 g kg-1) was higher than those of mine soils (144.2 g kg-1 for middle land unit and 137.0g kg-1 for pedon closest to the mine site). Mine soils were younger with silt-clay ratio ranging from 3.7 to 7.0 while unaffected soils were older (silt-clay ratio = 0.6). Low values of calcium-magnesium ratios (Ca/Mg < 3.0) were reported. Soil pH progressively increased towards un-mined site. The soil profile proximal to the mine site was shallower (depth <1 00cm) when compared with other soil profiles, and had a lithic contact at 90 cm depth. Based on field and laboratory analysis soils were classified as Lithic Dystrudepts (5 metres away from mine site), Typic Haplanthrepts (25 metres away from mine site) and Typic Hapludults (2 kilometres away from mine site).