Earth Science

The unwise use of the natural environment due to ignorance and greed of man amongst others has led to the degradation of the environment. An approximately total area of 25.58km2 of Obosi land were surveyed and examined. Based on the morphology and the relief of the surveyed area, three mapping units, MU1-lowland areas, MU11-upland areas and MU111- gullied area were established. Profile pit samples collected from these three mapping units were used to study the impact of land degradation on the physicochemical properties of Obosi land. The findings from the study showed that the texture of the soils varied from sandy loam to loamy sand. The soils reaction (pH) is extremely acidic through moderate acidity to alkaline, ranging from 4.8-8.0. The organic matter content of the soils is very low, 0.32-1.34gkg-1, the nitrogen content and exchangeable acidity of the soils were observed to be low, while exchangeable A13+ was found to be totally absent in all the horizons of profile C except 35-65cm, AB horizon with a record value of 0.2cmlkg-1. The C/N of the soils were observed to vary from 2.14-29.29 with an exceptional high value of 54.06 at profile pit B, horizon AB 35-90cm. The available phosphorous (P) of the soils was observed to be completely absent in profile pit A and B and some horizons of profile pit C and D. In those horizons where values were obtained the recorded value was low and range from 0.94-14.93mgkg-1. Generally the findings from the study revealed that the impact of land degradation was great on the soils of Obosi as the nutrient element studied were below their critical level. The causes of the prevailing land degradation processes in Obosi land were found to include massive de-vegetation of the entire area, industrialization, undulating topography and relief of the area and the high erodibility of the soils.

The physico-chemical characteristics of Otamiri River were investigated using digital meters and Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS). The aim of the study was to provide information that will be useful in the sustainable development of the River. The results indicates that the mean pH concentrations of the Otamiri river obtained at four strategic gauge stations designated SSWS1 - Egbu, SSWS2 –Timber Market, SSWS3 – FUTO and Downstream-Mbirichi were 6.45, 6.58, 6.45 and 6.50 respectively for the mean pH while the mean values for Pb2+ were 0.02, 0.02, 1.67 and 0.02 mg/l respectively, that of Cd2+ was 0.004, 0.0036, 0.004 and 0.002 mg/l respectively while the mean concentrations for Fe+ were 0.01, 0.016, 0.23 and 0.10 mg/l. The result of stream sediment samples indicates that the concentrations of pH were 5.8, 5.90, 6.30 and 4.45 respectively while mean concentrations values for Pb2+ were 0.08, 0.07, 0.06 and 0.05 mg/kg respectively while the values for Cd2+ were 0.32, 0.28, 0.30 and 0.25 mg/kg respectively. The values for Hg were 0.10, 0.13, 0.15 and 0.18 mg/kg. The results for both water and sediment samples with respect to pH and some heavy metal concentrations were not in conformity with World Health Organisation (2011) standard for safe drinking water as well as Federal Ministry of Environment (2006) standard for soil respectively thus, constitute a threat to the River; these are attributed to waste dumps and anthropogenic activities around the four stations The Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) of the river indicates that it is excellent for irrigation purposes even though correction of the pH needed to be done. The pollution index (PI) of the river shows that it is tending towards its critical value of 1. The pH of the water can be treated using sodium bicarbonate while the sediment by liming method while the excessive concentrations of heavy metals can be treated using acornic acid.

The present study was the suitability and quality of groundwater for irrigation and domestic purposes in premonsoon and postmonsoon. Groundwater samples were collected in seventy locations in both the seasons in the year of 2016. Various physicochemical tests were carried out and WQI was calculated based on pH, TDS, Ec, TH, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cl, So4, HCo3and F. The comparison between the premonsoon and postmonsoon reveals that very good range 27% and 6%, and good to permissible range in premonsoon 73% and in postmonsoon 94% of the water samples were fit for drinking.

This geophysical investigation of groundwater is aimed at delineating the aquiferous units around the western part of the Lower Imo River Basin by determining their depths, thicknesses, resistivities and the potential borehole depth at various locations within the area employing the technique of Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) using the Schlumberger array. Twenty two sounding stations were established. Four to six geo-electric layers comprising the top soil, clayey sand, dry sandstone, saturated sandstone, shaley sand and sandy shale were delineated with the later usually occurring as the last layer. The third and fourth layers underlying dry sandstone form the aquiferous unit. This unit was found to have an average resistivity value range of 10.7–6060?m and an average thickness of 32 m. Longitudinal Conductance increases towards the Southeast with a high closure around Umuduru Egbe Aguru. Conversely, Transverse Resistance increases towards the Northwest with a very high closure around Dikenafai and Mgbee axis. These confirm the difficulties often experienced during ground water exploitation in these localities. The Northern part of the study area has high thickness of aquifer units ranging from 50-80m. Similarly too, high depth to water table and consequent high possible Total Drill Depth (TDD) were mapped within the Northern part of the area. The reverse is the case for the South being dominated by the highly prolific Benin Formation. It was advised that care ought to be taken in drilling and casing at shallow aquiferous areas to maintain proper sanitary condition so as to reduce the risk of groundwater contamination.

Uzeeba Shale is investigated for the first time for palynological content in order to determine its geological age and suggest its lithological equivalent. This is based on the recovery of miospores through laboratory processes that involved digestion, maceral floatation and mounting of the organic matter on slides for analysis under the microscope. However, the occurrences of index fossils that are stratigraphically important were used for dating of the Uzeeba sequence. The shale is generally light to dark grey in color and fissile in nature. An informal zone Milfordia jardinei/Foveotriletes margaritae assemblage zone is established for the studied section. The lower part of the outcrop section is dated Campanian based on the co-occurrence of Milfordia jardinei, Milfordia sp, Cupanieidites reticularis, Tetradites sp and quantitative occurrence of monocolpate pollen; while the upper lithofacies segment is assigned Lowermost Maastrichtian age based on the co-occurrence of Proteacidites sp, Retidiporites magdalenensis, low frequency of Monocolpites marginatus, Ctenolophonidites costatus, Longapertites marginatus, Periretisyncolpiyes sp, Syncolporites sp, Proxapertites cursus, and Constructipollenites ineffectus. Some of the forms that are diagnostic of Maastrichtian are found to have evolved in Campanian time. The Uzeeba Shale is laterally equivalent to Nkporo Shale lying in the adjacent Anambra Basin based on lithology, palynofacies and age. Thus, the Uzeeba Shale is here dated Campanian–Lowermost Maastrichtian age. The paleoenvironment of deposition of the Uzeeba Shale is mainly marginal marine characterized by co-occurrence of dinoflagellate cysts such as Phelodinium bolonienae, Senegalinium sp, Paleocysttodinium golzownse, microforaminiferal wall lining and Botryococcus braunii which are known to be environmentally significant for transitional environment.

A main part of Iran is considered as arid and semi-arid regions as well as water is one of the limited factors for these areas. Controlling the destructive floods is an important activity due to destructive floods and water shortages. In this regard, flood spreading is an effective strategy to control and use floods. To determine suitable areas for flood spreading and direct water into a permeable formation is one of the most important factors in determining the success of flood spreading projects. The present study was conducted to combine and compare the Delphi and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for flood spreading in Ivar watershed, NE Iran. For this purpose, 4 main criteria, 8 sub-criteria and 24 indices were selected. Percentage and degree of importance for criteria, sub-criteria and indices of flood spreading was determined by AHP in Expert Choice. Questionnaire forms were filled in by experts so that those which have high degree and percentage of importance are more important. After that, the maps were prepared by geographic information system (GIS). Based on the results of AHP and Expert Choice, the highest and lowest relative importance was recorded for sediment volume and Unemployment rate, respectively. According to Delphi technique, indices of soil permeability, flood quality, soil texture, slope, aqueduct, and sub-criteria of water, aquifer, topography, as well as criteria of permeability and flood are important in order in locating flood spreading for Ivar watershed. According to the results of the techniques used in this study, it is revealed that criteria, sub-criteria and indices in Delphi and AHP have approximate results. Hence, using these techniques interchangeably in location of flood spreading can be effective and practical.

This paper is aimed at evaluating the prospecting potential of the reservoir sands of D-field onshore Niger Delta located around 23km west of Uyo, Nigeria. The field covers an area of approximately 6.9km2, located around latitudes 6o 13’N and 6o 14’N and longitudes 7o18’E and 7o20’E. Well logs from eight wells were used – together with the seismic section, to evaluate these potentials from two reservoirs (D-A and D-B) in the field. D-A revealed average porosity and permeability of 0.22 and 7,390md respectively while D-B revealed average porosity and permeability of 0.21 and 3,714md respectively. D-A has 23MBO of oil while D-B has 80MBO. Both reservoirs will yield their oil at irreducible water saturation condition.

For the last two decades, the government strategy in most developing countries has been focusing on the development policy of rural areas. This is caused by the slower socioeconomic development in these areas compared to that of the urban areas. The flaw in the previous development policy, which concentrated more on the development of rural areas, has resulted in the regression of the rural areas. For that reason, rural development concept has become the government strategy in improving the standard of living and socio-economic of the rural community, particularly for the poor people. Most of the rural community members are less active and hardly become involved in the government development programmes. Moreover, their economic activities are concentrated on agricultural based activities which provide low proceeds and unprofitable. Therefore, new policy has been legislated to ensure that the rural community will be free from poverty and regression through active involvement in the development of the rural tourism sector. The government anticipates that the development in the rural tourism sector particularly in homestay tourism will be able to boost the socioeconomic development of the community in the areas involved. It is for the reason that, the homestay tourism is able to make the most of nature’s beauty as well as the community’s idyllic customs and cultures as appealing strategies to attract tourists to come to their village, which in turn will heighten the tourism activities in the area. Ever since it was introduced, the homestay tourism has gained encouraging responses that it is utilized as the strategy to overcome poverty in rural areas. Since then, the homestay tourism has attracted tourists, particularly international tourists. Through homestay tourism, participants are given the opportunity to experience the difference in the way of living and customs of the local community as well as given accommodation package throughout their stay in the chosen village. The implementation of the homestay programme offers opportunity to the tourists to be aware of and understand the cultures and the way of life of the local community as they, themselves will be experiencing the village life. This research uses questionnaire distributed to 70 homestay proprietors in Banghuris, Selangor. Based on the fieldwork carried out in Banghuris, it is evident that the homestay tourism has been able to bring in socio-economic changes ever since it was implemented. Therefore, this research proves that the homestay tourism is able to be a medium of the strategy to overcome poverty in rural areas, and above all in improving the community’s income rate as well as receiving outside influence for the betterment of their lives.

This research investigates and reports the mineralogy, geochemistry, industrial implications and protolith of a marble deposit in the basement complex of Owan-East, Edo-State, Southwestern Nigeria. Field geology revealed the marble is interbedded with calc-silicate gneiss, quartz-biotite schist, polygenetic metaconglomerate, mica schist and quartzite. The marble occurs as lenses within the gneiss and overlain by a thin gritty tropical soil. The fine-grained marble occurs in three colour varieties (white, grey, and banded). The banded type exhibits strong axial foliation which is concordant with NNE-SSW regional strike with westerly dip ranging between 68° and 82°. Petrographic investigation revealed that calcite and dolomite account for over 85% of the marble. X-ray diffraction showed the marble is composed of calcite (52%), dolomite (35%), accessory quartz (6%), biotite (4%) and feldspar (2%). Optical and X-ray results indicate the bands in the banded variety represents clay impurities in the original limestone protolith.The marble is calcitic (CaO, 51.7-60.76%; MgO, 1.42 – 2.57%) with average Mg2+/Ca2+ ratio of 3:100. Average alkali (Na2O + K2O) contents (1.13%) suggest deep water, low saline (estuarine, brackish to paralic) environment of deposition for the ancient limestone. Alumina content of the marble (white, 0.5 %; grey 0.35 % and foliated 3.49 %) (total average: 1.45 %) and that of Fe2O3 (white, 0.19 %; grey 0.5 % and foliated 1.78) (total average: 0.82 %) exceed those of other marble deposits in southwestern Nigeria. Silica Ratio (SR) (1.28), Alumina Ratio (AR) (3.54), and Lime Saturation Factor (LSF) (537.75) suggest the marble is useful in the manufacture of cement. The marble also meets industrial specifications for fertilizer production and as refractory lime.

The study was carried out to characterize selected conglomerates of the Banket Series of the Tarkwaian at Tarkwa area and related the textures and mineralogy to gold grade and recovery. The conglomerates contain 60-90% quartz pebbles, with the matrix being fine to medium and rarely composed of coarse-grained quartz. The gold ore also comprises of minor fine-grained ore minerals, sericite, and chlorite. The quartz pebbles were glassy, milky and partially recrystallized into sugary varieties. Primary sedimentary textural characteristics of sub-rounded to rounded pebbles of about 0.5 cm to 3.0 cm diameter are common. The quartz pebbles are moderately sorted and well packed. Gold in the ore ranges from 0.78 - 3.86 g/t such that high-grade ores had glassy quartz pebbles whiles medium to low-grade ores had sugary varieties. Gold recovery (38.66 - 95.08%), generally increased with increase in the percentage of the matrix volume. It is also higher in ore containing grey quartz and containing much ore minerals; lowest recoveries have high quartz, low matrix volume, and richer in quartz. Also, associated with lower recovery was higher chlorite content which may require more metallurgical treatment for efficient recovery.