Environmental Impact of Artisanal Gold Mining on Soils in Saigbe and Environs, part of Minna Sheet 164, North central, Nigeria

Abstract

The Environmental geochemistry of soils from Saigbe and environs, Minna, North central Nigeria was studied with the aim of assessing the impacts of artisanal gold mining activity in Saigbe and environs. geological fieldwork carried out in the area revealed that the underlying lithologies include schist, granite and amphibolite.. A geochemical soil soil survey was also carried outand a total number of twenty (20) soil samples were systematically collected from both mined and unmined area sites within the study area, of which eight (8) representative samples were geochemically analysed . Elemental concentration (major and trace elements) in the soil samples were determined using X-ray Flourescence (XRF) technique. The physical impacts observed during the fieldwork include loss of vegetation, land degredation, water pollution, and abandon pits. The average concentration of the elements determined were compared with the published upper crustal abundance of the individual elemets and subsequently their enrichment ratios were computed. Elements such as Ag, Au and Hg show high enrichment with 1.81ppm, 0.03 ppm and 0.11 ppm concentrations respectively. The result from accumulation index (igeo) also show possible Hg contamination. This potentially toxic elements can cause serious damage to the skin, nervous and digestive systems in man through direct and indirect consumption