Potential Applications of Marine Deposits Assessment Using Radiometric and Geochemical Data Integration in Arewa-Jantulu NW, Nigeria

Abstract

Exploration for uranium, thorium, potash, and manganese at this time can be seen as a magnitude that can settle into the immense economic benefit to the host community and the country at large. These minerals have transformed the economic landscape of many host countries and they can be mined to contribute significantly to the Nigerian economy. In this study In-situ measurements using Radiometric and trace element analysis of intercontinental deposits discovered by the paleomagnetic analysis were carried out in Arewa-Jantulu part of the Gwandu formation northwestern Nigeria. The present study was aim to measure and characterize the concentration of radioactive anomalies using radiometric and geochemical measurements. Uranium (U), Thorium (Th), and Potassium (%K) as well as the total count (TOT) gamma-ray concentration was measured with a portable Gamma-ray spectrometer. The results of the gamma-ray measurements shows spatial distribution plots of different levels of radioactivity over the studied area, which reflect contrasting radioelements contents for exposures to various rock types. The phase identification of marine soil sediment samples was determined from Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). While the study has shown the correlation plots of various trace elements versus radioelements concentration as well as the total concentration of some profiles of the study area. This study identified the need for the interpretation of geochemical data in this location to confirm the results obtained are meaningful. The study has also revealed the computed mean and standard deviation for trace elements analysis for ease assessment. For radioelements occurrences, the spatial distribution plots of activity of uranium (eU), thorium (eTh), and (K %) give an indication where high concentrations of thorium and uranium occur.