Assessment of Trace and Rare Earth Element Levels in Stream Sediments in Ijero-Ekiti Area, Southwest Nigeria

H. Y. Madukwe, O. A. Ibigbami , R. A. Obasi

Assessment of Trace and Rare Earth Element Levels in Stream Sediments in Ijero-Ekiti Area, Southwest Nigeria

2020

H. Y. Madukwe, O. A. Ibigbami , R. A. Obasi

The study considered the level, sources and extent of trace and rare earth elements (REE) contamination in Agbangudu stream sediments in Ekiti State, Southwestern Nigeria. The samples were analysed with Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometer (LA-ICP-MS). The trace and rare earth elements’ concentration ranged from 0.50 (Mo) to 750 (Ba) and 0.16 (Lu) to 175 (Ce) ppm respectively. The results revealed that the sediments are not that enriched in REEs. The Pollution Load Index (PLI) indicates baseline levels of the metals. The geochemical index (Igeo) of the elements revealed uncontaminated to moderately contaminated, except for Cs and Ta with strongly to extremely contaminated status. The Average Shale Value (AVS) and the Upper Continental Crust (UCC) normalized REE distribution patterns of the sediments. To establish the relationship between the metals, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Clusters Analysis (CA) were used as classification techniques. Despite the common occurrences of the elements, their overall patterns were much different as revealed by the cluster analysis.

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