Volume 17, Issue 1, August 2015, Pages 175–185
Paulinus N. Nnabo1
1 Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria
Original language: English
Copyright © 2015 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
The environmental and geochemical studies at Enyigba Pb-Zn mining district near Abakaliki South eastern Nigeria were undertaken to characterize the distribution of mobile heavy metals in rocks. A total of twenty-one (21) samples were collected from rock samples in the area. The distribution and determination of total concentration were estimated. The geochemical studies include sampling, partial leach test and chemical analysis for As, Cd, Ca, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn using UV-Spectrophotometer. The result revealed high concentration of some of the metals in the sampled media with decreasing concentrations with distance from known Pb/Zn mining sites for mostly Cd, Pb, As, and Ni. Their potential distribution and environmental risk were evaluated using enrichment and contamination factor. Indices of geoaccumulation, contamination and metal enrichment showed generally high values for Cd, As, Pb and Cu. compared with permissible limits and standard. Generally the concentration is in order: Cd > Pb > Cu > As > Co > Zn > Zn; for rock samples. Compared to permissible limits, the degree of enrichment is very high for Cd and moderate for Pb, and Cu in the rocks samples. Also the calculated contamination factor shows low to very high contamination status. These levels of contamination and values indicate that under the prevailing conditions and environmental regulations in Nigeria, the mining district would face major and hazardous discharges of these metals to soil and water sources.
Author Keywords: Heavy Metal Distribution, Rocks, Nigeria.
Paulinus N. Nnabo1
1 Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria
Original language: English
Copyright © 2015 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
The environmental and geochemical studies at Enyigba Pb-Zn mining district near Abakaliki South eastern Nigeria were undertaken to characterize the distribution of mobile heavy metals in rocks. A total of twenty-one (21) samples were collected from rock samples in the area. The distribution and determination of total concentration were estimated. The geochemical studies include sampling, partial leach test and chemical analysis for As, Cd, Ca, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn using UV-Spectrophotometer. The result revealed high concentration of some of the metals in the sampled media with decreasing concentrations with distance from known Pb/Zn mining sites for mostly Cd, Pb, As, and Ni. Their potential distribution and environmental risk were evaluated using enrichment and contamination factor. Indices of geoaccumulation, contamination and metal enrichment showed generally high values for Cd, As, Pb and Cu. compared with permissible limits and standard. Generally the concentration is in order: Cd > Pb > Cu > As > Co > Zn > Zn; for rock samples. Compared to permissible limits, the degree of enrichment is very high for Cd and moderate for Pb, and Cu in the rocks samples. Also the calculated contamination factor shows low to very high contamination status. These levels of contamination and values indicate that under the prevailing conditions and environmental regulations in Nigeria, the mining district would face major and hazardous discharges of these metals to soil and water sources.
Author Keywords: Heavy Metal Distribution, Rocks, Nigeria.
How to Cite this Article
Paulinus N. Nnabo, “ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METAL DISTRIBUTION IN ROCKS FROM ENYIGBA PB-ZN DISTRICT, SOUTH EASTERN NIGERIA,” International Journal of Innovation and Scientific Research, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 175–185, August 2015.
