Relationship between Metal Concentrations in Galena Ore and Soil Samples from Galena-rich Farmlands
A. U. Itodo *
Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria
I. S. Enejiv
Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria
L. A. Egbegbedia
Department of Chemistry, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
One of the Nigerian minerals (galena ore) within galena deposit region in Torkula, Benue state, was characterized along with its vicinity farmland soils for possible relationships in their geo-physico-chemical compositions. Both classical (titrimetric & gravimetric) and instrumental analytical techniques were adopted. Contamination factors revealed different categories of pollution by heavy metals while the metal loading in the ore and ore-rich soils shows no statistical difference for Pb and other key metals at p < 0.05. Hence, the possibility of leaching of toxic metals from mineral ores, their transport and distribution to surrounding environment cannot be over emphasized.
Keywords: Contamination, Galena, metals, environment, pollution, soil, farmlands