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 p H meter(Milwaukee meter) to measure the p H and electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, moisture content and loss on ignition of the soil and stream sediment samples. The p H 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 geoaccumulation 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.

Source characteristics and genesis of Sb mineralization from the Au and Sb deposits of the Youjiang Basin,SW China:constraints from stibnite trace element and isotope geochemistry

The Youjiang Basin is characterized by a wide distribution of Au and Sb deposits.These deposits are mainly hosted by sedimentary rocks from Cambrian to Triassic and are structurally controlled by faults and folds.Three types of Sb mineralization can be distinguished based on geologic characteristics,economic metals,and mineral associations.The first type is dominated by Sb mineralization but contains minor or little Au,similar to the large Qinglong deposit.The second type has a spatial association with the gold deposit but formed independent Sb mineralization,reminiscent of the Badu deposit.In the third type,Sb generally formed as an accompanying element in the Carlin-type gold deposit,and stibnite occurred as euhedral crystals filling the open space and faults in the late stage of gold mineralization,analogous to the Yata deposit.Trace element concentrations and sulfur isotopic ratio of stibnite,and oxygen isotope of stibnite bearing quartz were analyzed to infer the ore source(s)for Sb mineralization and genesis.To distinguish the various types of stibnite mineralization between the deposits,Cu,Pb,and As have recognized most diagnostic,with an elevated concentration in Au and Au-Sb deposits and depleted in Sb deposit.Theδ34S isotopic composition of stibnite samples from three deposits show a wide variation,ranging from-6.6%to+17.45%.Such isotopic values may indicate the sedimentary sulfur source,introduced by fluid–rock interaction.On the other hand,fluid mixing of several end members cannot be excluded.The calculatedδ18O isotopic data of Sb-bearing quartz show the initial ore fluid in Au and Au-Sb deposits most likely have a magmatic or metamorphic origin that enriched during fluid–rock interaction,and Sb deposit characterized by initial meteoric water.From these data,we proposed that different lithologies,fluid–rock interaction,fluid pathways,and different ore fluids controlled the compositional evolution of fluids,which might be the main reason for the diversity of Au or Sb mineralization.