GEOCHEMICAL AND MINERALOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SCHIST BODIES OF SOMORIKA AND ENVIRONS, SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

Semorika and its environs of the northern part of Igarra, Edo State lies within latitudes N7º16’30” and N7º19’30’’ and longitudes E6º4’30” and E6º9’0” and is part of the Igarra shist belt, Southwestern Nigeria. Geochemical and mineralogical analysis was carried out on five(5) rock samples of schist using X-Ray Flourescence and X-Ray Diffractogram analysis respectively. Results obtained fron the XRF analysis shows that the schists contains high amounts of SiO2, Fe2O3, Al2O3. Other oxides present include Na2O, MgO, CaO, K2O, MnO, TiO2, ZnO2, P2O5 and Nb2O. Mineralogically, results obtained from the XRD analysis shows that the schists in the area consists of quartz, mica, k-feldspar as the major minerals presence of clay minerals indicates a highly weathered rock.