Environmental Geochemistry of Igarra Marble Mining District, Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

The determination of the impacts of marble mining on the environment in Igarra was carried out via the analysis of soil and water samples as geological medium. Seven soil samples, ten water samples and five rock samples were collected. The samples collected were subjected to petro-graphic and geochemical analysis. The mean concentration of metals in soil from Ekpeshi were Cd (3.254 mg/kg), Co (786.554 mg/kg), Cu (12.911 mg/kg), Ni (18.942 mg/kg), Pb (5.5 mg/kg), and Zn (28.457 mg/kg) while the concentrations of the water samples collected from streams, taps and wells were Cd (0.116 mg/kg), Co (15.225 mg/kg), Cu (0.542 mg/kg), Ni (0.276 mg/kg), Pb (0.486 mg/kg), and Zn (0.742 mg/kg). Lead (Pb) showed high concentration of (0.486 mg/kg), Ni (0.276 mg/kg) and Cd (0.116 mg/kg) as against acceptable limits of 0.01mg/l, 0.02 mg/l (NIS) and 0.07 mg/l (WHO) 0.003 mg/l respectively, while in soil it showed high concentration of Cd (3.254 mg/kg) compared to the acceptable limit of 0.8 mg/kg set by the Dutch Standard limit for soil. Lead, Nickel and Cadmium are found to be in high concentration in both surface and underground water, and this calls for treating water in the study area before it’s used as drinking water via drilling water boreholes by the mining and processing companies operating in the area as a form of corporate social responsibility. Also, the provisions in the mining act should holistically be implemented to safe life and health of the populace of the immediately surroundings.