Mineralization, geochemical signatures, and provenance of stream sediments on the Jos Plateau, Northcentral Nigeria

Abstract

This study aimed at determination of mineralization, geochemical signatures and provenance of stream sediments on the Jos Plateau, northcentral Nigeria. Ten (10) stream sediments samples collected were air-dried and subjected to X-Ray Fluorescence analysis. The SiO₂ value of 49.79 to 77.03 wt%, Fe₂O₃ value of 1.30 to 28.84 wt%, Al₂O₃ value of 5.27 to 18.25 wt%, CaO value of 0.22 to 1.88 wt%, MgO value of 0.12 to 0.92 wt%, K₂O value of 0.44 to 2.00 wt% and Na₂O value of 0.02 to 0.65 wt%. The low values of CaO (0.22-1.88 wt %) and Na₂O (0.02-0.65 wt %) could be associated with the destruction of plagioclase feldspar while low K₂O composition (0.44-2.00 wt%) could be associated with the destruction of K-feldspar during weathering. The concentration of MnO (0.06-0.12 wt%) indicates manganite enrichment, the high TiO₂ value (0.63-4.25 wt%) shows rutile enrichment while ZrO₂ value (0.48-18.48 wt%) indicates zircon mineralization from the underlying lithologies. The high values of pathfinder elements (Y, Zn and Nb) could be attributed to the presence of Older and Younger Granites at the upstream of the study area. Samples 4, 5, 8 and 9 have Thorium (Th) concentrations >15 ppm threshold which point to areas favorable for Th mineralization. Enrichment Factor (EF) ranges from 3.03 to 42.42 indicating moderate, significant, very high enrichment and extremely high enrichment. The Contamination Factor (CF) of 1.27 to 201.03 indicates moderate and very high contamination possibly from geogenic sources. The provenance of stream sediments is associated with felsic and mafic sources