| ARTICLES | Am. J. innov. res. appl. sci. Volume 2,  Issue 4, Pages 135-146 (April 2016)

Research Article GEOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF ARTISANAL GOLD MINING AROUND KATAEREGI AREA, NORTH-CENTRAL NIGERIA   | Yunusa Adinoyi Omanayin | and | Mashood Idowu Ogunbajo |. American Journal of Innovative Research and Applied Sciences. 2016; 2(4):135-146.     | PDF FULL TEXT |              | Received | 04 April 2016|          | Accepted | 11 April 2016|         | Published   16 April  2016 |

ABSTRACT Background: The activity of artisanal and small-scale mining is observed to be practiced more in the developing countries especially in Africa due high level of poverty compared to other region. The high and increasing gold price among other metals in the world market today has triggered the attentions of world populace, marginalized communities and developing countries into adopting this informal method of mining. Since the activity require modest investment and minimal technical skills to complement their source of livelihood. Objectives: Thus, the geology and effect of artisanal gold mining was investigated in Kataeregi and environ, North-central Nigeria with the aim of determining its host rock and assessing the impact of such activity on the surrounding. Material and Methods: The methods employed for this study include both geological field work and laboratory analyses. A total of fifty-three (53) samples were collected from rocks, sediments and water from the study area and analysed using appropriate analytical techniques. Results: Geological field mapping show the area comprise of the Migmatite-Gneiss complex, Schist, Granite and Sandstone lithologies. The geochemical analysis of the representative rock samples indicates probable Au, Ag and Hg mineralization (0.16ppm, 2.53ppm and 0.21ppm respectively on the average). Au is hosted by auriferous quartz veins within the Schist rock. Geochemistry of the sediment samples revealed the sediments are enriched with elements such as Au (0.23ppm), Ag (2.59ppm), Hg (0.21ppm) and Mo (1.14ppm). The water is earth-alkaline fresh water with high alkaline content, and mostly sulphate type. The average concentration of these elements in rocks and sediments were compared with published average crustal abundances of the elements in upper continental crust and the water compared with Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ, 2007) and World Health Organization (WHO, 2011) Standards. Conclusion: Mining activity has impacted the environment with land degradation, loss of vegetation and erosion of soils. Trace elements like Hg in rocks and sediments, and Pb in water from the study area are potential toxic elements that can render water unfit, causes slow growth rate in plant and reproductive disorder in man. Keywords: Geochemical Investigation, Water Quality, Artisanal Gold Mining, Environmental Effect, Schist Belt, Nigeria.