Grain Size and Heavy Minerals Analysis of Maastrichtian Sandstone, Anambra Basin, Nigeria: Implication for Aquifer Properties
The Maastrichtian sediments of Anambra Basin, south western Nigeria was studied for grain characteristics and maturity of the sediments, so that by combining sedimentological characteristics, maturity and its paleoenvironment of deposition of the Ajali sandstone, in order to ascertain the aquifer p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Joint Coordination Centre of the World Bank assisted National Agricultural Research Programme (NARP)
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management |
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| Online Access: | https://www.ajol.info/index.php/jasem/article/view/202332 |
| _version_ | 1827297179456241664 |
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| author | M Ilevbare OI Imasuen |
| author_facet | M Ilevbare OI Imasuen |
| author_sort | M Ilevbare |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
The Maastrichtian sediments of Anambra Basin, south western Nigeria was studied for grain characteristics and maturity of the sediments, so that by combining sedimentological characteristics, maturity and its paleoenvironment of deposition of the Ajali sandstone, in order to ascertain the aquifer properties of the groundwater within the study area and by extension the availability of drinking water for both the urban and rural settlers. Grain size analysis (51 samples) and heavy mineral analysis (15 samples each) were analyzed. The textural parameters show that the Sandstone are medium sand, poorly to moderately sorted, coarse to strongly coarse skewed with mesokurtic to leptokurtic grains. The heavy minerals present in lithologic sand and sandstone units of Ajali Formation are mainly zircon, rutile, tourmaline, apatite, staurolite, and opaque minerals (Goethite, hematite, ilmenite), these heavy minerals found in the sandstone are associated with igneous and metamorphic source which indicates that these maastritchian sediments are from basement complex rock The ZTR index of 67.96% and the values of the kurtosis indicates a sub-mature sandstone to mature sandstone, which gives an excellent aquifer properties. Also, the paleoenvironment of deposition of the Maastrichtian sediments is Fluvial. The sand and sandstone bodies deposited in a fluvial system have sheet-like geometries and due to the differences in the extent of aquifer compartmentalization, Sandstone deposited in fluvial environment normally has better hydraulic conductivity which again reveals a good aquifer property. The sedimentological characteristics for the Sandstone exposed at Fugar and environs, is a coarsening upward sequence (increasing grain sizes) with a progressive increase in sorting. since hydraulic conductivity increases with increasing grain sizes and sorting, hence, excellent aquifer characteristics for the groundwater within the study area. The foregoing revealed that the aquifer geometry and properties of the study areas is favourable for the availability of drinking water for both the Urban and rural dwellers within these communities.
Keywords: Aquifer geometry, groundwater, hydraulic conductivity, Anambra Basin
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T14:51:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3bb68897614c41f0914a53d2a22f4be1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2659-1502 2659-1499 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T14:51:05Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | Joint Coordination Centre of the World Bank assisted National Agricultural Research Programme (NARP) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management |
| spelling | doaj.art-3bb68897614c41f0914a53d2a22f4be12024-04-02T19:48:45ZengJoint Coordination Centre of the World Bank assisted National Agricultural Research Programme (NARP)Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management2659-15022659-14992020-12-01241110.4314/jasem.v24i11.7Grain Size and Heavy Minerals Analysis of Maastrichtian Sandstone, Anambra Basin, Nigeria: Implication for Aquifer PropertiesM IlevbareOI Imasuen The Maastrichtian sediments of Anambra Basin, south western Nigeria was studied for grain characteristics and maturity of the sediments, so that by combining sedimentological characteristics, maturity and its paleoenvironment of deposition of the Ajali sandstone, in order to ascertain the aquifer properties of the groundwater within the study area and by extension the availability of drinking water for both the urban and rural settlers. Grain size analysis (51 samples) and heavy mineral analysis (15 samples each) were analyzed. The textural parameters show that the Sandstone are medium sand, poorly to moderately sorted, coarse to strongly coarse skewed with mesokurtic to leptokurtic grains. The heavy minerals present in lithologic sand and sandstone units of Ajali Formation are mainly zircon, rutile, tourmaline, apatite, staurolite, and opaque minerals (Goethite, hematite, ilmenite), these heavy minerals found in the sandstone are associated with igneous and metamorphic source which indicates that these maastritchian sediments are from basement complex rock The ZTR index of 67.96% and the values of the kurtosis indicates a sub-mature sandstone to mature sandstone, which gives an excellent aquifer properties. Also, the paleoenvironment of deposition of the Maastrichtian sediments is Fluvial. The sand and sandstone bodies deposited in a fluvial system have sheet-like geometries and due to the differences in the extent of aquifer compartmentalization, Sandstone deposited in fluvial environment normally has better hydraulic conductivity which again reveals a good aquifer property. The sedimentological characteristics for the Sandstone exposed at Fugar and environs, is a coarsening upward sequence (increasing grain sizes) with a progressive increase in sorting. since hydraulic conductivity increases with increasing grain sizes and sorting, hence, excellent aquifer characteristics for the groundwater within the study area. The foregoing revealed that the aquifer geometry and properties of the study areas is favourable for the availability of drinking water for both the Urban and rural dwellers within these communities. Keywords: Aquifer geometry, groundwater, hydraulic conductivity, Anambra Basin https://www.ajol.info/index.php/jasem/article/view/202332Aquifer geometry, groundwater, hydraulic conductivity, Anambra Basin |
| spellingShingle | M Ilevbare OI Imasuen Grain Size and Heavy Minerals Analysis of Maastrichtian Sandstone, Anambra Basin, Nigeria: Implication for Aquifer Properties Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management Aquifer geometry, groundwater, hydraulic conductivity, Anambra Basin |
| title | Grain Size and Heavy Minerals Analysis of Maastrichtian Sandstone, Anambra Basin, Nigeria: Implication for Aquifer Properties |
| title_full | Grain Size and Heavy Minerals Analysis of Maastrichtian Sandstone, Anambra Basin, Nigeria: Implication for Aquifer Properties |
| title_fullStr | Grain Size and Heavy Minerals Analysis of Maastrichtian Sandstone, Anambra Basin, Nigeria: Implication for Aquifer Properties |
| title_full_unstemmed | Grain Size and Heavy Minerals Analysis of Maastrichtian Sandstone, Anambra Basin, Nigeria: Implication for Aquifer Properties |
| title_short | Grain Size and Heavy Minerals Analysis of Maastrichtian Sandstone, Anambra Basin, Nigeria: Implication for Aquifer Properties |
| title_sort | grain size and heavy minerals analysis of maastrichtian sandstone anambra basin nigeria implication for aquifer properties |
| topic | Aquifer geometry, groundwater, hydraulic conductivity, Anambra Basin |
| url | https://www.ajol.info/index.php/jasem/article/view/202332 |
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