Water quality Investigation within the neighbourhood of Kataeregi Artisanal Gold mining sites, North Central, Nigeria

Abstract

Hydrochemical analysis was performed on water samples obained from streams, mine ponds, and hand dug wells within the neighbourhood of Kataeregi gold mining site located along minna-Bida road in north central Nigeria. The exercise is aimed at ascertaining the suitability of water from streams and hand dug wells for both domestic and irrigational purposes. The papameters analysed for comprises of temperature , Acidiity-Alkalinity level (ph), Total dissolved solid (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), and concentrations of So4 , No3, HCO3, Cl, Ca3+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, Cu2+ Fe2+, As and Pb2+. Geological field mapping shows the area comprise of Migmatite-gneiss complex, Schist, Granite and Sandstone lithologies. The concentration of Fe2+ and Pb2+ far exceed World health Organization (WHO) and Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water quality (NSDWQ) pescribed limits for irrigation, portability and other domestic purposes. The high content of iron could be attributed to the oxidative weathering of pyrite associated with the gold mineralization in the area while the high lead contnent observed in the area was due to the weathering and subsequentdissolution of galena, discarded by the artisanal miners during the exploration of gold. all watewr bodies in the area belong to earth alkaline fresh water which is an indication of water from shallow aquifer system