ANALYSIS OF GEOCHEMICAL AND GEOTECHNICAL PARAMETERS OF SELECTED LATERITE MINING PITS IN DUTSIN-MA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA AND ENVIRONS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10/3303/jees.2026.0301/035Keywords:
Laterite, Geochemical parameters, Geotechnical parameters, Minning pits, Construction materialsAbstract
This study investigates the geochemical and geotechnical properties of laterite soils from four active mining sites (Kurfi, Gago, Radda, and Shagari) located in Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria, to characterize laterite and assess its suitability for construction. The research employed an analytical framework, combining geochemical analysis using spectrophotometry to determine the concentrations of Silicon dioxide (SiO2), Iron oxide (Fe2O3), and Manganese oxide (MnO2), alongside geotechnical testing including Atterberg limits, compaction, moisture content, and California Bearing Ratio (CBR) measurements following standard procedures (BS 1377 and ASTM D698). The results revealed significant spatial variability in geochemical and geotechnical parameters across the four mining sites. Fe2O3 content ranged from 0.07 to 1.34 mg/kg, with Radda and Shagari exhibiting substantially higher concentrations, indicating more advanced lateritization and weathering processes. Similarly, SiO2 concentrations varied from 2.50 to 3.90 mg/kg, confirming intense desilication characteristic of tropical ferralitization under humid conditions. The CBR values demonstrated remarkable variation from 16% to 60%, with Radda showing the highest strength characteristics, while the Plasticity Index ranged from 2% to 7%, reflecting differences in clay mineralogy across sites. Correlation analysis established strong relationships between geochemical and geotechnical parameters, particularly the positive correlation between Fe2O3 and CBR (r = 0.894) and the strong relationship between SiO2 and optimum moisture content (r = 0.947), highlighting the significant influence of oxide composition on engineering behavior. The findings underscore the importance of site-specific characterization in optimizing laterite utilization and implementing monitoring of mining sites to prevent overexploitation and environmental degradation in the Dutsin-ma area.
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