Exploration for Fe-Mn Oxides Using Geochemical Signatures in Soil: A Case Study of Part of Northwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Part of northwestern Nigeria was investigated with the aim of delineating concealed mineralization using geochemical signatures in soils. To achieve this, 30 selected soil samples were analysed geochemically. The result of the elemental analysis was subjected to Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and isograde plotting, while selected elements were correlated. From the geochemical result, most of the analysed elements have anomalous value in the southern part of the area, while the least values are in the southwestern. From the PCA analysis, six factor groups were distinct. The factor groups were interpreted geochemical to fingerprint mineralization in the area. The result of correlation analysis shows that Fe is negatively correlated with most of the correlated elements. The study concluded that the central part of the study area is mineralized with both manganite and goethite. In addition, manganese mineralization is indicated by elemental association: Zn+As+Be+Bi+Co+Nb+Ni+CsP+Al+Ca+Cd+Li+K, while iron mineralization is indicated with Zr+Th+Pd+Mo+V+Sn+Cr+Ce+InSc+P+Pb association.