Geochemical assessment and speciation of metals in sediments of Osun and Erinle Rivers,Southwestern Nigeria

Fifty sediment samples were collected from Osun (urban) and Erinle (suburban) rivers in addition to ten samples of the underlying rock types (schist and gneiss) and analyzed for elemental constituents while speciation of metals was determined by sequential analysis. Data were geochemically evaluated and ArcGIS was used to generate geochemical maps. Metal concentrations (ppm) in sub-urban and urban areas were Cd (0.2–0.2, 0.2–1.1), Cu (37.0–272.0, 49.0–970.0), Ni (6.0–27.0, 3.0–43.0), Pb (16.0–67.0, 15.0–2650.0), Zn (32.0–170.0, 50.0–987.0), Co (8.0–60.0, 2.0–86.0), Cr (26.0–153.0, 9.0–128.0), V (30.0–142.0, 9.0–135.0), and Mn (442.0–5100.0, 107.0–3930.0), respectively. In the rocks, Cu, Ni, Pb, Co, Cr, V, and Zn, concentrations (ppm) were below detection limit (BDL)-0.05, BDL-38.00; 6.23–12.00, BDL-20.00; 3.78–6.23, BDL-5.00; BDL-0.20, BDL-4.00; 5.00–9.00, BDL-66.00; 15.99–32.00, BDL-130.00; and 18.00–26.00, BDL-48.00, respectively, with Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, and Mn of elevated concentrations in sediments compared with that of the rocks, being indication of additional anthropogenic sourcing. Calculated contamination indices revealed contamination for sediment from the urban areas compared to those from the sub-urban. High percentage of Pb (2.94–81.92%), Cu (31.69–45.95%), Zn (49.2–65.5%), Cd (31.69–45.95%), and Mn (12.13–37.50%) are hosted by the bio-available phases (carbonate, organic, and sulfide). The geochemical distribution of metals in the sediments of the Osun and Erinle rivers is governed by both geogenic (Ni-Cr-Co-V) and anthropogenic (Pb-Cd-Zn) activities. Elevated concentration and occurrences of the selected metals in the bio-available phases pose potential health risk to people in the urban area.     

青海—阿斯哈矿区金矿工艺矿物学及金赋存状态研究

矿产资源高效综合利用是目前全球矿业发展的主要方向。传统的光学显微镜和扫描电镜等技术在查明许多低品位矿石的元素赋存状态等方面具有局限性,且无法提供定量化的矿物学信息,制约了对这些金属矿石选矿工艺的提升。近年来,基于扫描电镜和X射线能谱仪的矿物自动定量分析系统越来越多地应用到复杂矿石和工艺矿物学的研究中。为了进一步丰富和拓展该类系统在工艺矿物学领域的应用研究,本文利用矿物自动定量分析系统TIMA（TESCAN Integrated Mineral Analyzer）对中国某矿山低品位铜矿渣样品进行矿物学测试分析,展示其在提取多种工艺矿物学参数研究中的具体应用。分析结果表明：该铜矿渣中铜元素含量（0.08%）很低,主要赋存在黄铜矿中,该矿物含量为0.21%;脉石矿物含有大量石英（47.46%）、白云母（10.10%）和方解石（9.88%）等;黄铜矿连生关系复杂,主要以连生体形式呈不规则粒状零散分布在石英和方解石等脉石矿物中,粒度小且分布极不均匀,其中11～76μm颗粒占比较大;解离度低于30%的黄铜矿颗粒质量占全部的85%左右,整体解离度较低,因而需要进一步磨矿来提升黄铜矿回收率。以上研究表明,对于有用矿物含量低、粒度细小且嵌布关系复杂的矿石样品,包括TIMA在内的矿物分析系统能够提供快速、定量、全面且准确的工艺矿物学参数信息,有利于优化选冶流程,在提高矿产资源的综合利用方面具有非常广阔的应用前景。

     

Solute load concentrations in some streams in the Upper Osun and Owena drainage basins, central western Nigeria

The solute load dynamics of 12 third-order streams in central western Nigeria are presented, during storm and non-storm runoff events. The relevance of the Walling and Foster model for explaining storm period solute load dynamics in the humid tropical environment was assessed and it was found that this model was generally applicable to the study area. Exceptions appear to be streams draining settlements and/or farms where fertilizers are applied heavily. The solute load ranged from 5 mg l⁻¹ to 580 mg l⁻¹ with streams draining basins with tree-crop plantations (Theobroma cacao, Cola sp.) as the dominant land cover having the highest solute load.     

The environmental planning and management approach towards the development and management of the Osun natural spring project,Ibadan, Nigeria

There is a general shortage of potable water in Nigeria, partly through the lack of natural provision and partly because of rapid urban growth that has largely been unplanned. The paper describes the recent redevelopment of a public water facility in a run-down area of Ibadan which is part of the Sustainable Ibadan Project. Despite funding from national and international bodies, the development is strongly based at community level. The local inhabitants feel they have control over their own water supply through their representatives on the various planning and managing committees. This aims to reduce vandalism and to increase pride and involvement in the community. The project is a pilot for other projects around Ibadan, some of which have begun and others are being planned. This paper describes the administrative structures and management principles that have been employed. It forcefully advocates community-based planning and management which respects both the environment and the water-users, and involves a major “bottom-up” element. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Socio-economic impacts of ecotourism attractions in Enugu state,Nigeria

The study examined the socio-economic impacts of ecotourism attractions in Enugu State with special interest to investigate the trending benefits, effects and challenges of ecotourism development in the State. Questionnaire survey and interview guided by participatory rural appraisal techniques were employed to elicit needed information. The findings of the study revealed that the ecotourism industry in the area attracted benefits such as; provision of jobs, business opportunities, improved family income, patronage of local products and improved transport system. Irrespective of these benefits, the study also revealed that there were accruing challenges such as; lack of trained labor power, lack of government interest, lack of private sector participation, poor administration of the ecotourism sites, inadequate security, lack of standard supermarkets and poor accommodation facilities. Based on these findings, the study recommended that all stakeholders of the tourism industry should participate actively in all stages of ecotourism development in the area and that tourism should be enrolled as one of the core subjects or course in the secondary schools, colleges and universities to improve the awareness of the local people and improve the labor power.     

Arsenic in the Muteh gold mining district, Isfahan, Iran

Following the appearance of symptoms of arsenic toxicity in the inhabitants of villages in the Muteh gold mining region, central Iran, the concentration of this element in various parts of biogeochemical cycle is investigated. For this purpose, rock, groundwater, soil, plant, livestock hair and wool, and human hair samples are collected and analysed. Total arsenic content ranges from 23 to 2,500?mg/kg in rock samples, 7?C1,061???g/l in water, 12?C232?mg/kg in soil, 0.5?C16?mg/kg in plant samples, 4.10?C5.69?mg/kg in livestock hair and wool, and 0.64?C5.82?mg/kg in human hair. Arsenic concentration in various parts of biogeochemical cycle near the gold deposit in a metamorphic complex, and also close to the gold-processing plant, is very high and decreases exponentially with increasing distance from them. Arsenic concentration in water from a well close to the Muteh gold mine is above 1?mg/L. Arsenic in hair samples taken from local inhabitants is above the recommended levels, and the control samples in Shahre-Kord city. Arsenic concentration is higher in male population and correlates positively with age. It is suggested that arsenic resulting from the decomposition of ore mineral such as orpiment (As₂S₃), realgar (As₂S₂) and arsenopyrite (FeAsS) is responsible for polluting natural resources and the human intake via drinking water and the food chain. Gold mining and processing has undoubtedly enhanced the release of arsenic and intensified the observed adverse effects in Muteh area.     

甘肃鹿儿坝金矿床金赋存状态研究

甘肃鹿儿坝金矿处在西秦岭“岷礼金矿带”上,是我国卡林型金矿“西北金三角”组成部分。该矿床赋存于洮河复向斜北东翼之中三叠统浅变质浊积岩建造中,矿体受NWW向断裂构造控制明显,矿石以中-低温热液蚀变矿物组合为特征,是一个正在开发但难选的大型金矿床。为了解金的赋存状态,文章通过中-高倍矿相显微镜、金化学物相分析及电子探针(EMPA)测试等手段,研究了金在矿石中的赋存状态。结果表明,三类矿石中金的分布型式基本一致,载金矿物主要为毒砂、石英、黄铁矿和铁白云石;金以矿物包裹金为主,总占比达96.31%,其中硫化物包裹的金占61.45%~89.01%、硅酸盐中的金占有率为7.28%~25.49%,独立存在的金矿物较少,占1.03%~9.01%;独立金矿物主要以矿物粒间单体金形式存在,金成色987.05‰,为自然金,粒度以0.0009 mm×0.0061 mm~0.0078 mm×0.0114 mm为主。这为矿床研究提供了基础信息,并为改善矿山生产提供了一定的理论依据。     

Hydrogeochemical assessment of groundwater in Moro area,Kwara state,Nigeria

Detailed study of chemical analysis results of several groundwater samples (UNICEF-Assisted Water project, Kwara state, Nigeria) were carried out in an attempt to assess the quality and usability of groundwaters in the Moro area. Chemical analysis results indicate higher concentrations of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and HCO₃ ^– as compared to Na⁺, K⁺, Cl^–, and SO₄ ^2–. With exception of few locations where Fe is relatively higher, the concentrations of these ions together with other water quality parameters are all within permissible limits of the domestic and agricultural standards.On the basis of the analytical results, groundwaters in the study area are largely characterized as Ca-(Mg)-HCO₃ type reflecting (possibly) young facies with limited migratory history. The occurrence of Ca-(Mg)-Na-HCO₃ water type in certain areas is attributed to cation exchange processes. In addition, the observed scattered relationship between the TDS and the thickness of weathered horizons in the boreholes indicates the contribution of precipitation (recharge) to the ionic inputs in the groundwaters in addition to the weathering and dissolution processes.     

Exposure of children to heavy metals from artisanal gold mining in Nigeria: evidences from bio-monitoring of hairs and nails

Acta Geochimica - In recent times, there had been reported cases of Pb poisoning in Anka gold mining area, Northwest Nigeria. Therefore, this study was carried out to determine the extent of...     

西昆仑沃克金矿床地质特征、金的赋存状态及矿床成因探讨

沃克金矿床是西昆仑西段金铜矿带近期发现的一处具有大型远景的金矿床。金矿体主要产于近东西向展布的韧-脆性剪切带中,赋矿岩石为穿切于绢云千枚岩中的石英脉。主要矿化类型为毒砂矿化、黄铁矿化、黄铜矿化,热液蚀变为绢云母化、硬绿泥石化和碳酸盐化。在野外地质勘查与研究的基础上,笔者结合镜下显微观察,将成矿阶段划分为早（S1）、主（S2）和晚（S3）阶段,主阶段形成大量硫化物及方解石石英脉。载金硫化物主要为毒砂,次为黄铜矿、方铅矿。利用电子探针（EPMA）对载金硫化物进行分析,结合单元素面扫描成像,笔者认为金矿石主要以细粒金和中粒金形式存在。流体包裹体显示温度变化范围230~493℃,w （NaCl） _eq为1.56%~18.19%,成矿流体具有中高温、中低盐度的特征,表现为NaCl-H₂O-CO₂体系。石英δ¹⁸O值为8.6‰~14.0‰,流体的δD值在-83.7‰~-103.6‰,显示出变质水和大气降水的混合流体来源特征;硫同位素组成显示成矿物质源自中浅变质岩。笔者认为,沃克金矿床为与韧-脆性剪切带有关的中成造山型金矿床。     

夹皮沟八家子金矿地质特征成矿规律及矿石加工技术

桦甸市夹皮沟金矿区八家子金矿,产于太古界夹皮沟群下部四道砬河组的变质岩系与岩体的接触部位,岩体为一套基性-中性-酸性火山岩。矿体受构造控制,具有一定的成矿规律。夹皮沟群的下部岩组,由斜长角闪岩、变质安山岩、混合片麻岩夹绢云石英片岩、磁铁石英岩组成。该组是我省最大的金矿产出层位,控制着夹皮沟—板庙子等一系列大中型变质热液型金矿床的分布。     

Mercury-tainted overbank sediment from past gold mining in north Georgia, USA

 Gold was discovered in 1829 and mined until about 1940 in north Georgia, particularly within an area known as the Dahlonega mining district. The mining operations there, which involved mercury amalgamation in stamp mills and sluices, delivered significant quantities of mercury waste to streams. This paper focuses on the downstream dispersal and storage of mercury in streambank sediments of two watersheds near Dahlonega, Georgia. Mercury concentrations for individual samples of historical sediment range from 0.02 to 12.00 ppm, with average values in streambanks near the core of the mining district ranging from 0.2 to 0.6 ppm. Mercury levels rapidly decrease in the downstream direction to concentrations that are slightly above a background level of 0.04±0.02 ppm. Mercury concentrations also appear to decrease with increasing distance from streambanks. Similar levels of mercury contamination from former gold mines probably exist in many other parts of the gold-bearing rocks of the Piedmont of the eastern United States. The bioavailability and environmental hazard posed by the contaminated sediment is not certain. Received: 8 January 1996 · Accepted: 29 May 1996     

Fold crest degradation and slump deposition in the deepwater Niger Delta,Nigeria

This study uses 3D seismic reflection dataset to investigate the time-integrated growth and degradation of fault-propagation folds and associated slump deposits in the deepwater Niger Delta. The results of the analysis showed that slump deposits are sourced almost entirely from the degradation of growing fold crests—resulting in the development of seaward-facing scarps on the forelimbs of these folds. The scarps develop parallel to fold axes and have dips that range between 4° SW and 20° SW. The constant presence of fan-shaped slump deposits downdip of these scarps suggests a direct relationship to fold crest degradation. Moreover, the spatio-temporal distribution of the slumps also shows a direct relationship with the heights of seabed scarps along the strike of growing folds. Slumps have short run-out distances (generally less than 5 km); however, they also travel long distances downslope (up to 10 km) across growing structures by exploiting relay areas between growing scarps.     

四川丹巴独狼沟金矿中金与碲铋矿物的赋存状态及金的富集机制

独狼沟金矿是位于丹巴成矿带中穹窿边缘的典型的石英脉型金矿,矿床中发育大量明金与碲铋矿物。本文以独狼沟金矿中碲铋矿物及自然金为主要研究对象,通过显微岩相学观察、扫描电镜、能谱以及电子探针分析,对矿床中碲铋矿物和自然金的赋存状态进行了较为详细的研究,并对金的富集机制进行了探讨。结果表明,碲铋矿物与自然金主要在成矿Ⅱ、Ⅲ阶段产出,矿石中自然金主要为含银自然金,成色整体偏高,平均为881,碲铋矿物主要有楚碲铋矿、叶碲铋矿、赫碲铋矿、硫碲铋矿B、未命名碲铋矿物(Bi₂Te、Bi₈Te₃、Bi₃Te)以及自然铋,碲铋矿物与自然金具密切的时空关系。结合前人流体包裹体的研究结果,认为成矿Ⅱ阶段到Ⅲ阶段过渡的过程中温度以及体系中碲逸度的降低是矿床中多种碲铋矿物相形成的关键,独狼沟金矿成矿的物理化学条件以及碲铋矿物与自然金的矿物特征均指示成矿过程中金-铋-碲熔体对热液中金的抽取是导致自然金富集的关键。     

Land use control and natural resource management in Nigeria

In Nigeria, increasing evidence indicates a deteriorating man-land relationship. Negative changes in landscape quality, lowering both the productivity and aesthetic quality of the natural environment, may have serious effects on the nation's economy. In rural areas, declining soil fertility and soil erosion threaten the ability to produce sufficient food. In urban areas, competition for productive agricultural land has led to its conversion to urban uses. Earth materials required for urban development have been obtained by widespread landscape destruction. Expansion of urban areas into sensitive valley, marsh, and lagoon environments has led to an increased frequency of urban floods and flood damage. A developing conservation ethic must be accompanied by a practicable framework for land use control.     

东安金矿开采技术条件

东安金矿区地下水以构造裂隙水为主,未来开采矿坑涌水量不大;矿体及围岩坚硬稳固,工程地质条件简单;区域地块稳定,地貌地质条件不易引发地质灾害,也无其它不良环境地质现象,矿床开采技术条件为简单型。     

Land degradation risk assessment of El Fayoum depression, Egypt

The main objective of this study is to assess the land degradation risk of cultivated land in El Fayoum depression. The physiographic map of the depression was produced by using remote sensing and land surveying data. The depression comprises lacustrine plain, alluvial–lacustrine plain, and alluvial plain representing 12.22%, 53.58%, and 34.20% of the total area, respectively. The soil, climate, and topographic characteristics of the depression were extracted from land surveying, laboratory analyses, digital elevation model, and available reports. A simple model was designed to employ these data for assessing the chemical and physical risk of land degradation using Arc-GIS 9.2 software. The obtained results indicate that severe risk to chemical and physical degradation affect 54.15% and 29.23% of the depression, respectively. The current status of soil salinity, sodicity, and water table indicate that most of lacustrine and alluvial–lacustrine soils are actually degraded by salinization, sodification, and waterlogging. The results of degradation risk and the actual hazard indicate that the human activities are not sufficient to overcome the degradation processes in the most of the depression (80. 22%). Moreover, a negative human impact affects 26.29% of the area mostly in the alluvial plain. Great efforts related to the land management are required to achieve the agriculture sustainability.     

鸡爪沟金矿开采技术条件

鸡爪沟金矿区地下水以孔隙水和构造裂隙水为主,矿坑有水量不大,水文地质和工程地质条件简单,地貌地质条件不易发生地质灾害,环境地质条件较好为简单类型。     

Land degradation risk assessment in Al-Sawda terraces,Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Monitoring of soil properties is a significant process and plays an important role about how it can be used sustainably. This study was performed in a local area in Sawda Mountains KSA to map out some soil properties and assess their variability within the area under different land cover. Soil sampling was carried out in four different sites using the grid sampling technique. Ten samples were collected in each location within a 10 by 10 km area; soil was sampled at 0–30-cm depth. The soil samples were air-dried, crushed, and passed through a 2-mm sieve before analyzing it for pH, EC, CaCO₃, organic matter contents, and bulk density. The thematic maps of these characteristics were produced using ArcGIS 10.0 software. Finally, the land degradation was assessed using three factors: soil salinization, compaction, and edibility. The obtained results showed that the high risk of soil compaction, salinization, and erodibility occupied an area 5.6 ha (17.5%), 3.7 ha (11.54%), and 8.1 ha (25.3%), respectively, in the surface soil layer. The land degradation risk in the study area due to salinization was low to high; however, the degree of soil compaction was moderate to very high. The K-factor (soil erodibility) in the area ranged between 0.1 and 0.35 Mg h MJ^?1 mm^?1, and most of the study area was located in moderate to high erodibility classes.     

Assessment of trace metals contamination in stream sediments and soils in Abuja leather mining,southwestern Nigeria

This study is aimed at determining the level of environmental degradation as well as the concentration of trace elements in soil and stream sediments in order to evaluate the environmental impact of the mining operation. Twenty-five (25) soils and ten (10) stream sediment samples were collected from the study area. The physicochemical parameters were determined using appropriate instrumentation with the aid of a digital pH meter (Milwaukee meter) to measure the pH and electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, moisture content and loss on ignition of the soil and stream sediment samples. The pH of the soil sample ranged from (6.10 to 7.19); Electrical conductivity ranged from (21.3 to 279.4 µS/cm), moisture content varied from (0.60% to 7.20%), and the LOI ranged from (2.03% to 18.62%). The results of the analysis showed that the concentrations of the trace elements in the soils and stream sediment samples were slightly higher than the background values. Plots of the trace elements in stream sediment samples show moderate, consistent decrease downstream except at points where there was mine water discharge into the main river. The pollution levels of heavy metals were examined in stream sediment and soil samples using different assessable indices, such as the enrichment factor, which showed significant-moderate enrichment for Cr, Th, Nb, Zn, Pb, Y and Zr and the geo-accumulation index, which showed practically moderate contamination with Cr, Ni and Sr based on regional background reference values. Geo-accumulation index and contamination index for soils and stream sediment revealed uncontaminated to moderate contamination. Likewise, elements with moderate contamination were Cr, Ni and Sr. The Pearson correlation showed that there were significant positive associations among selected metals in soil and stream sediment samples.