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| Info-AJIRAS-® Journal ISSN 2429-5396 (Online) / Reference CIF/15/0289M |
American Journal of Innovative Research & Applied Sciences
|
American Journal of innovative
Research & Applied Sciences
Research & Applied Sciences
ISSN 2429-5396 (Online)
OCLC Number: 920041286
OCLC Number: 920041286
| ISSN: 2429-5396 (e) | https://www.american-jiras.com | |
| Web Site Form: v 0.1.05 | JF 22 Cours, Wellington le Clairval, Lillebonne | France |
| Web Site Form: v 0.1.05 | JF 22 Cours, Wellington le Clairval, Lillebonne | France |
Abstarct7-December-2023
| APRIL | VOLUME 22 | ISSUE N° 4 | 2026 |
| ARTICLES | Am. J. innov. res. appl. sci. Volume 22, Issue - 4 (Pages 1-14 (April, 2026)
| ARTICLES | Am. J. innov. res. appl. sci. Volume 22, Issue - 4 (Pages 1-14 (April, 2026)
Authors Contact
*Correspondant author and authors Copyright © 2026:
| Hammed, Rasheed 1,2 *| Abdullahi, Suleiman 3| and | Waheed Gbenga, Akande 4 |
Affiliation.
1. Department of Geology, PMB 65, Gidan Kwano Campus, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria |
2. Department of Geology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria |
3. Department of Geology, PMB 65, Gidan Kwano Campus, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria |
4. Independent Researcher (formerly with Department of Geology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria) |
This article is made freely available as part of this journal's Open Access:
[ Doi : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19462180 ] ID: [Rasheed-Ref1-4-22ajiras300326]
*Correspondant author and authors Copyright © 2026:
| Hammed, Rasheed 1,2 *| Abdullahi, Suleiman 3| and | Waheed Gbenga, Akande 4 |
Affiliation.
1. Department of Geology, PMB 65, Gidan Kwano Campus, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria |
2. Department of Geology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria |
3. Department of Geology, PMB 65, Gidan Kwano Campus, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria |
4. Independent Researcher (formerly with Department of Geology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria) |
This article is made freely available as part of this journal's Open Access:
[ Doi : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19462180 ] ID: [Rasheed-Ref1-4-22ajiras300326]
ABSTRACT
Background: Abandoned artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sites are recognised as persistent sources of heavy metal contamination in the environment. In crystalline basement terrains, a fundamental challenge is the robust distinction between geogenic and anthropogenic contributions to metal enrichment, particularly for lead (Pb), which poses well-documented neurotoxicological risks even at low exposure levels. The Jiko abandoned mine site in North-Central Nigeria, underlain by Precambrian basement rocks of the Pan-African schist belt, provides an important case study in which naturally elevated lithogenic Pb concentrations may be compounded by artisanal mining activities. Objectives: This study aimed to: (i) characterise the mineralogical and whole-rock geochemical composition of basement lithologies at the Jiko site; (ii) evaluate the degree of chemical weathering using the Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA); and (iii) constrain the relative contributions of geogenic versus anthropogenic sources to Pb enrichment in overlying soils and surface waters. Methods: Six representative rock samples were collected across the principal lithological units of the study area. Major element geochemistry was determined by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (ED-XRF). Bulk mineralogy was characterised by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) on a PANalytical Empyrean diffractometer. Optical petrography of polished thin sections was performed in plane-polarised light (PPL) and cross-polarised light (XPL). The CIA was calculated from molar oxide proportions, with CaO corrected for non-silicate fractions. Pearson correlation analysis was applied between bedrock major oxides and soil Pb concentrations. Results: XRF data reveal an intermediate to mafic basement composition with elevated Fe₂O₃ (mean = 9.58 wt.%), TiO₂ (2.17 wt.%), and CaO (6.03 wt.%). XRD identifies quartz, phlogopite, and albite as dominant primary phases, with secondary goethite and hematite in more altered samples. CIA values range from 48.35 to 62.20 (mean = 54.15), indicating incipient to moderate chemical weathering. A strong positive correlation between MgO and soil Pb (r = 0.817) provides robust evidence for a predominantly geogenic Pb source. Petrographic observation reveals frayed biotite margins, feldspar sericitisation, and Fe-oxide grain-boundary coatings, consistent with progressive Pb release and secondary redistribution. Conclusions: Pb enrichment at the Jiko site is primarily controlled by basement mineralogy, particularly mica- and feldspar-bearing lithologies of the Pan-African schist belt, with artisanal mining acting as a secondary kinetic accelerant of mobilisation. The data define a three-stage source-to-sink pathway: lithogenic storage within primary silicate lattices; weathering-induced Pb²⁺ release during feldspar hydrolysis and mica alteration; and partial retention via adsorption onto secondary Fe oxyhydroxides, with residual transfer to soils and surface waters. These findings highlight the critical importance of integrating mineralogical, geochemical, and petrographic evidence in contamination assessment at ASM sites, and recommend Pb isotopic analysis and SEM-EDS microanalysis for refined source apportionment and evidence-based remediation.
Keywords: Lead (Pb) mobilisation; Basement complex geology; Mineralogical controls; Environmental geochemistry; Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM); Source apportionment
Background: Abandoned artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sites are recognised as persistent sources of heavy metal contamination in the environment. In crystalline basement terrains, a fundamental challenge is the robust distinction between geogenic and anthropogenic contributions to metal enrichment, particularly for lead (Pb), which poses well-documented neurotoxicological risks even at low exposure levels. The Jiko abandoned mine site in North-Central Nigeria, underlain by Precambrian basement rocks of the Pan-African schist belt, provides an important case study in which naturally elevated lithogenic Pb concentrations may be compounded by artisanal mining activities. Objectives: This study aimed to: (i) characterise the mineralogical and whole-rock geochemical composition of basement lithologies at the Jiko site; (ii) evaluate the degree of chemical weathering using the Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA); and (iii) constrain the relative contributions of geogenic versus anthropogenic sources to Pb enrichment in overlying soils and surface waters. Methods: Six representative rock samples were collected across the principal lithological units of the study area. Major element geochemistry was determined by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (ED-XRF). Bulk mineralogy was characterised by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) on a PANalytical Empyrean diffractometer. Optical petrography of polished thin sections was performed in plane-polarised light (PPL) and cross-polarised light (XPL). The CIA was calculated from molar oxide proportions, with CaO corrected for non-silicate fractions. Pearson correlation analysis was applied between bedrock major oxides and soil Pb concentrations. Results: XRF data reveal an intermediate to mafic basement composition with elevated Fe₂O₃ (mean = 9.58 wt.%), TiO₂ (2.17 wt.%), and CaO (6.03 wt.%). XRD identifies quartz, phlogopite, and albite as dominant primary phases, with secondary goethite and hematite in more altered samples. CIA values range from 48.35 to 62.20 (mean = 54.15), indicating incipient to moderate chemical weathering. A strong positive correlation between MgO and soil Pb (r = 0.817) provides robust evidence for a predominantly geogenic Pb source. Petrographic observation reveals frayed biotite margins, feldspar sericitisation, and Fe-oxide grain-boundary coatings, consistent with progressive Pb release and secondary redistribution. Conclusions: Pb enrichment at the Jiko site is primarily controlled by basement mineralogy, particularly mica- and feldspar-bearing lithologies of the Pan-African schist belt, with artisanal mining acting as a secondary kinetic accelerant of mobilisation. The data define a three-stage source-to-sink pathway: lithogenic storage within primary silicate lattices; weathering-induced Pb²⁺ release during feldspar hydrolysis and mica alteration; and partial retention via adsorption onto secondary Fe oxyhydroxides, with residual transfer to soils and surface waters. These findings highlight the critical importance of integrating mineralogical, geochemical, and petrographic evidence in contamination assessment at ASM sites, and recommend Pb isotopic analysis and SEM-EDS microanalysis for refined source apportionment and evidence-based remediation.
Keywords: Lead (Pb) mobilisation; Basement complex geology; Mineralogical controls; Environmental geochemistry; Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM); Source apportionment
ARTICLE 1 PDF
Friday, September 19, 2025
MINERALOGICAL CONTROLS ON LEAD MOBILISATION IN A BASEMENT TERRAIN: INTEGRATED GEOCHEMICAL AND PETROGRAPHIC EVIDENCE FROM AN ABANDONED MINE SITE, NORTH-CENTRAL NIGERIASend Comments
| Hammed, Rasheed 1,2 *| Abdullahi, Suleiman 3| and | Waheed Gbenga, Akande 4 |. Am. J. innov. res. appl. sci. 2026; 22(4):1-14
| PDF FULL TEXT | | XML FILE | | HTML FILE | | Abstract and Author Contact | | [ Doi : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19462180 ] |
| PDF FULL TEXT | | XML FILE | | HTML FILE | | Abstract and Author Contact | | [ Doi : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19462180 ] |