INTEGRATED GEOLOGY, MINERALOGY AND GEOCHEMISTRY INVESTIGATIONS OF THE MINNA-TEGINA-MAKERA ROAD NORTH WESTERN NIGERIA: IMPLICATION ON FAILED PORTION

Abstract

Minna - Tegina - Makera federal road links the north to the southwest and serve as major route for transportation of goods and services. The road has been repaired severally, but continues to fail at particular portion a short time after repair. This study therefore integrated geology, mineralogy and geochemistry to investigate the cause of the failure. The area is underlain by basement and sedimentary rocks of varying texture, mineralogy and geochemistry. The stable portion is underlain by granite-gneiss, granites, amphibolites schist quartz schist and sandstone while the failed road sections are underlain by mica schist, phyllite and coarse grain granite It is evidently clear from this finding that low grade metasedimentary rocks constitute the foundation of the failed section, the presence of clayey and sandy (weathered product) and interaction with climate have contributed to road failure witnessed on the study road section.