GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF RARE EARTH ELEMENTS AROUND GRANITE QUARRY IN IKPESHI

ABSTRACT

This study was done to assess the concentration of Rare Earth Elements(REEs)in soils collected from Granite Quarry in Ikpeshi, Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria. This study was done in order to ascertain if the mining activities in Ikpeshi has had any impaction the concentration of REEs in the  soil around the quarry site. For the purpose of this study nine(9) soil samples were collected from  four different locations (two each) aroundithe igranite iquarryiiniIkpeshi. The samples we collected at depth range of 0-10cm and 10cm-20cm. For analysis of the samples, XRF(X-ray Fluorescence)  method was used to determine the REEs concentration in the samples collected.  Results were then normalized and compared with known REEs standards from PAAS (Post Achaean Australian Shale) and UCC (Upper Continental Crust). The REEs values gotten from the analysis of the samples were then plotted in a comparison curve with standards from PAAS and UCC and it was observed that the degree of contamination in the soil samples varies from low contamination to very high contamination. All the REEs contamination factor of the soil samples analyzed are below the standard contamination factoriof 1 except Lutetium (Lu) (9.327), which was above the contamination factor of 6.