As a major source of water for irrigation, the evaluation and assessment of groundwater to ensure it meets the quality for sustainable agriculture is key. This research presents the findings of the quality of groundwater and its suitability for irrigation purposes. This was carried out using the irrigation water quality indices and the Geographic Information System (GIS). The Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) method of the GIS was used to study the spatial distribution of these indices. Indices considered include Sodium Absorption Ratio (SAR), Percentage Sodium (%Na), Permeability Index (PI), Kelly Ratio (KR), Magnesium Hazard (MH), Total Hardness (TH), Residual Sodium Bicarbonate (RSBC) and Potential Salinity (PS). The values obtained were SAR (0.00 to 10.99, mean of 3.43), Percentage Sodium (26.00% to 94.42%, mean of 70.33%), Permeability Index (94.14% to 379.47%, mean of 161.45%), Kelly Ratio (0.00 to 8.62, mean of 3.19) and Magnesium Hazard (0.00% to 80.33 %, mean of 39.21%). Total Hardness (12.49 mg/L to 77.50 mg/L, mean of 31.35 mg/L), Residual Sodium Bicarbonate (-0.55 meq/L to 5.46 meq/L, mean of 1.41 meq/L), Potential Salinity (0.88 meq/L to 2.53 meq/L, mean of 1.69 meq/L) and Electrical Conductivity (110µS/cm to 910µS/cm, mean of 277.14µS/cm). The computed water indices when compared with known standards show that the groundwater from the study area is generally fit and can be applied for irrigation purposes.

This present study investigated the Gold and Chalcophile mineralisation potentials of the Rawayau area in Northwestern Nigeria. The aim of the investigation is to delineate the likely Gold and Chalcophile mineralisation occurrences in the study area so as to aid further exploration studies that will identify Gold rich targets worth investing resources for detail exploration project before mining. To achieve this, 17 samples (7 rock samples and 10 sediments) were collected and subjected to laboratory analysis at the National Geologic Survey Agency (NGSA) in Kaduna. The geochemical study showed that the Au concentration ranged from below detection level (bdl) to 0.09ppm in the rock samples, while ranging from 0.013ppm to 0.137ppm in the sediments. Ag concentration ranged from 0.37ppm to 0.97ppm with in the rock samples, while ranging from 0.088ppm to 0.229ppm in the sediments, thus showing a higher concentration in both rock and sediments than Au. Significant positive relationship was observed between Ni, Cr, Cu, Mn, Fe, Zn and Co from the correlation analysis. It also revealed a subsurface increment of Gold and Chalcophile concentration of Nickel, Copper and Zinc with higher concentration of Nickel, Copper, Zinc, Manganese, Chromium and Lead in comparison to Gold and Silver. The study concludes that the Rawayau area holds much prospects for Gold and other minerals. It is suggested that further exploratory studies be carried out so as to pave way for the commencement of mining activities in the study area”.

The study area in this research is within the Ropp Complex, part of the Nigerian Mesozoic Younger Granite province. The study aims to interpret the depositional environment and establish the provenance of the alluvial cassiterite deposits in the study area. Boreholes/mining pits were logged for this study, and stanniferous sandstone samples were collected, which were used for textural and mineralogical studies. The mineral assemblages documented in the samples include ilmenite (3 to 27%). Cassiterite (2 to 14 %), Zircon (2 to 16%), magnetite (0 to 17%), tourmaline (5 to 11%), rutile (2 to 8%) and monazite (2 to 7%). The ZTR Index calculated from the result of heavy minerals analysis for the selected pieces is 59%. Mineralogical studies revealed that quartz is the most dominant detrital mineral averaging about 93-99%, indicating that the stanniferous sandstones are compositionally matured and have experienced a high degree of chemical weathering. The quartz grains have grain sizes ranging from coarse to very coarse. They are poorly sorted, sub-angular to sub-rounded, with low sphericity. This also indicates a closeness to the source and textural immaturity. The occurrence of relatively very few feldspar grains suggests a slow sedimentation rate, very high rate of chemical weathering and composition maturity. The bivariate plots, univariate grain size parameters and probability plots, and the absence of fossils and trace fossils suggest deposition in a fluvial environment. The results of the granulometric analysis indicate that the study area's stanniferous sandstone was deposited in a fluvial environment by a low-energy fluvial (river) depositional system and the deposition in proximal (close to the source). This study suggests that the Basement complex and Younger Granite are the sources of the stanniferous placer deposits.