SOIL EXPLORATION AND GROUNDWATER PROSPECT IN ETUA, DELTA STATE NIGERIA

Abstract

A soil test was used to categorize different types of soil in Etua town. The results of the atomic absorption spectrophotometer (A.A.S.) and X-ray fluorescent machine (XRFM) methods indicate that the soil is composed of SiO₂, Fe₂O_3, FeO, Al₂O_3, CaO, Na₂O, and K₂O in nature. SiO₂ and Fe₂O₃ ranked highest in the amount of oxide metals found in the soil sample,. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that tests on groundwater samples with ions showed that certain parameters had levels that were higher than allowed. As a result, the kind of soil and the characteristics of the water samples aid in determining the appropriate and practical groundwater treatment methods to be applied. Etua is contained within the Benin Formation of the Niger Delta sedimentary base of Nigeria and is bordered to the east by Ossissa in the Ndokwa East Local Government Area, to the west by Onicha-Ukwuani, and to the north by Nsukwa in the Aniocha South Local Government Area. Samples of soil and water were taken, and their respective ionic concentrations and elemental oxide compositions were examined. Lateritic soil, clay soil, and sandy soil are all observed in the research area. The studied area show similar relationship between the water and soil compositions. It shows similar conductivity for both soil and water in the areas of study. Finally, it is observed from the research that the area of investigation has great groundwater potential due to the medium-coarse soil layers, which can act as an aquifer.