Author(s)

Mohammed Olatoye Adepoju

Department of Applied Geology, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.

Geochemical survey of residual soils was undertaken in Dagbala-Atte District of Igarra Schist Belt, southwestern Nigeria to explore for base and precious metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Au and Ag). It involved sampling residual soil from 49 sites in a grid pattern; analyzing the soil samples for the base and precious metals and other commonly associated elements including As, Cd, Fe, Hg and Sb; subjecting the geochemical data generated to statistical analysis; and preparing the geochemical distribution map of the district for each element.  On the basis of the multivariate statistical analysis (correlation matrix and factor analysis) of the soil geochemical data, three mineralization types were inferred to be present in the district. The suspected types of mineralization consist of: 1) Cu-Pb-Zn-Ag mineralization with associated As, Hg, Sb and Fe; 2) Au-Cu mineralization with associated As; and 3) minor Hg-bearing Au-Pb mineralization. With the aid of the elemental geochemical distribution maps, the suspected mineralization was linked to rock types from which the sampled residual soils were apparently derived. Hence, the suspected Cu-Pb-Zn-Ag mineralization is linked to the quartz-biotite schist at the southwestern part of the district while the suspected Au-Cu mineralization is located on the silicified sheared rock at the northern and southern parts and the minor Hg-bearing Au-Pb mineralization within the granitic gneiss at the northeastern and eastern areas of the district. Based on the foregoing findings, it is recommended that lithogeochemical survey for the base and precious metals should be done in the area.

Dagbala-Atte District, Factor Analysis, Geochemical Distribution Map, Mineralization

Adepoju, M. (2019) Geochemical Soil Survey for Base and Precious Metals in Dagbala-Atte District, Southwestern Nigeria. International Journal of Geosciences, 10, 141-159. doi: 10.4236/ijg.2019.102009.