Site Investigation for siting a Municipal Landfill System in Minna, North-central Nigeria using Electrical Resistivity Method

Abstract

Investigation of the proposed sites for sanitary landfill within Minna, North-central Nigeria was carried out using electrical resistivity method. The MacOhms meter was used to obtain the field data for both 2-dimensonal profiling (2D) and 1-dimensional vertical electrical sounding (VES). The investigation was used in the subsurface characterization of the investigated site in order to determine its suitability as potential site for sanitary landfill. 2D electrical subsurface imaging was used to determine the lateral and horizontal subsurface lithologic variation at the site. The vertical electrical sounding (VES) curve generated from the study area shows two curve types, which are H and HA with HA showing dominance. Geoelectric sections generated from the VES indicate four lithological layers: top/lateritic layer, clayey soil, the weathered/fractured zone and the fresh basement rock. The results indicate the clay layer thickness ranged between 2.0m to 5.0m while the depth to clay layer varied from 5.8m to 9.0m from the datum point. The findings indicate that the clay soil from the investigated site meets the geotechnical and hydrogeological conditions as barriers for impeding possible leachate migration from sanitary landfill.