GEOCHEMISTRY OF ROCKS AND SOILS FROM GARATU AREA OF BIDA SHEET 184NE IN RELATION TO GOLD MINERALISATION

Abstract

Geochemistry of rocks and soils in relation to gold mineralization was carried out to studyaim to evaluate the geochemistry of the rocks and soils in the Garatu area of Bida Sheet184NE in relation to gold mineralization. The study area occupies the central portion of the Nigerian basement complex. The geological mapping involved determination of the various rock types and lithology and a systematic grid regional soil sampling points on ascale 1:25,000, while the geochemical study involved determination of bulk chemistry to identify major and trace elements and also the REEs to quantify the gold potentials and other economic minerals in the rock and soil samples. This analyses was carried out atActlab, Canada. The result of the geological mapping revealed that the area mapped is predominantly of granite intruding the Schist from the north to the south. A total numberof 10 soil and 5 fresh representatives of rock samples were carefully collected forgeochemical and petrographic analysis. The result of the mineralization potential of therock and soil samples reveal gold enrichment of 72% and 90.86% respectively. This resultindicates significant gold enrichment in the study area. The enrichment however is moreviable in the soils which geologically means significant amount of gold have migrated from their primary environment of rock to the secondary environment as in soil.