Geological Mapping, Petrography and Ground Magnetic Survey in Gidan Doya, Lokoja, North Central, Nigeria

The geological mapping, petrographic and ground magnetic Survey in Gidan-Doya, Lokoja, North Central, Nigeria was carried out. The geomagnetic data were acquired along 8 traverses using 3 axes MCL6 Proton Precession Magnetometer and Magnetic Susceptibility Meter. The data were processed using Surfer 11 software, corrected for variations in geomagnetic fields as well as upward continuation and residual magnetic field. The anomaly patterns identified in the upward continued map revealed distinct structural zones. The North Eastern and South Western zones have the maximum magnetic intensity values ranging from 700 nT to 1100 nT suggesting shallow basement while the North Western zone is characterized by relatively low magnetic intensity values ranging from -300 nT to 700 nT suggesting a deeper basement. The direct measurement of magnetic susceptibility varies between 0.36 x 10-3 SI to 39.00 x 10-3 SI. The contour map shows the relative thickness of the overburden to be between 15 to 40 m. The study concludes that magnetic potential of the survey area is controlled principally by the subsurface structures, thickness of the overburden and mineral composition. The faults, fractures, and lithological contacts provide channels for mineralization fluids and flow of underground water. Petrographic study shows that the area is dominated by Migmatite and granite. The major minerals include feldspar, quartz and biotite, while magnetite, ilmenite and hematite occur as accessory minerals. Keywords: Magnetic Susceptibility, Petrography, Paramagnetic, Structures, Residual magnetic map and shallow Basin

Assessment of Surface and Ground Water Quality in Ganaja, Lokoja, North-Central, Nigeria

The increasing rise in population, poor sanitation habits, massive flooding and lack of enforcement of environmental Sanitation laws in the study area have contributed immensely to the pollution of water sources. Thus, water samples were obtained from river Niger, hand-dug wells and a bore-hole in Ganaja, Lokoja, north-central, Nigeria for water quality analyses. The hydro-geochemical results showed that the pH values range from 6.70-7.70 indicating alkaline water type. The water hardness of the hand dug wells range from 7.46 - 241.09 with an average value of 110.30 indicating soft to moderately hard water. The hardness value range from 7.47 to 10.78mg/l in the river samples, 56.88 to 207.78mg/l in hand dug wells and 57.35mg/l in borehole sample respectively. The results show values are all above the World Health Organization (WHO) admissive limit and Nigeria Standard for Drinking Water Quality guideline for drinking water. The value of Mg ranges from 1.11 – 10.74mg/l in all the samples, this is above Nigeria Standard for drinking water. The values of the physico-chemical parameters such as the ToC, Ec, BOD, COD, HCO3, CO3, SO4 Cl, NO3 Na, Ca, and the heavy metals including Pb, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn as well as the concentration of TDS, Ca and K  in all the other waters samples are within the allowable limits. TDS is linked to taste, hardness, corrosion properties and tendency for incrustation by water. Hard water can cause aesthetic problems including include alkali taste (making morning coffee taste bitter), formation of deposit on dishes, utensils, laundry basins, difficulty in getting soup and detergents to lather, formation of insulating precipitate on clothing, characteristic blue-green staining of sinks, household pipes choking, scaling, incrustations on kitchen utensils and increasing soap consumption. Hardness of water can create both nuisance and economic burden to individual and community. It is advisable that the water be treated against hardness, TDS, Ca, Mg and K before consumption or other domestic use. They should be regular routine monitoring by concerned authorities, as this, will ensure compliance and safety. Keywords: Water quality, Hardness, pH, Hydrochemistry, Heavy Metal and Public Healt