PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF MINERAL VICINITY SOIL, WATER AND SEDIMENT AND THE MORPHOLOGY (SEM) AND FUNCTIONAL GROUP (FTIR) ANALYSIS OF BAUXITE AND RUTILE ORE IN KANAM AND WASE MINING SITES, PLATEAU STATE-NIGERIA.

Abstract

Physicochemical properties of soil and sediment as well as water quality parameters, microbial and biochemical properties were carried out to ascertain the levels of metal contamination from Kanam and Wase mineral ore (bauxite and rutile) exploration sites. pH, and E.C, revealed contamination of water sources within bauxite and rutile ore vicinities. Values obtained were higher than that received for water control sample, the observed nitrate values were alarmingly higher than the global acceptable 10 mg/L limit. Turbidity results of bauxite and rutile vicinity water were also higher than the control sample (4.7 NTU) and above FAO/WHO acceptable limits of below 5NTU and <1 for drinking water. TBC and TCC of water samples sourced within bauxite mining exploration site revealed high MPN for bacteria and coliform (28, 32 MPN) slightly higher than the control (25 MPN). Similar results were received for rutile vicinity water. The biochemical property DO of water samples sourced within bauxite and rutile mine site areas unveiled values above the acceptable limit (3 mg/L). The BOD varied between 1.98 to 2.1 and 1.9-2.1mg/l for bauxite and rutile vicinity stream channel water respectively, both lower than the water control sample (3.2 mg/L) and the EU guideline standard values of 3.0 to 6.0 mg/L. COD values ranged between (4.9 mg/l-5.05 mg/l) for bauxite vicinity water samples and (5.2 to 5.5 mg/L) for rutile mine site. The physicochemical property pH of soil and sediment received within bauxite mining vicinity varied between the slightly acidic ranges (6.1 to 6.2), while that of soil and sediment sample from rutile ore mine site and control were observed to vary between the recommended ranges of 6.6 to 7.5. The average E.C of soil and sediment within both bauxite and rutile mining vicinities revealed similar levels of metal contamination which were slightly higher than the control sample (27 ????????/cm).  Soil samples CEC had lower values than the control. Bauxite vicinity soil, sediment and control unveiled averagely Sandyclay-loam in various proportions of sand, clay and silt whereas, rutile vicinity soil revealed Sandyloam. SEM characterization of bauxite ore revealed the interlocking of various associated minerals within the crystal aggregate, while the surface morphology of rutile ore suggested that rutile consist of nano-sized primary particles. FTIR analysis of bauxite and rutile ore within the absorption spectra 650-4000 cm^-1 due to symmetrical stretching is as result of azide [N=N=N]^-, sodium nitrosonium ion (Na+[NO₂]^-), (Phosphane) PH₃ and [C=N]^- ion. While predominantly nitrosyl chloride, nitrogen and linear isocyanate functional groups were revealed for rutile ore.