Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Article Title: Effects of Calcite and Dolomite Mining on Water and Soil Qualities: A case study of Freedom Group of Companies, Ikpeshi, Edo State Nigeria
by Saliu, Muyideen Alade and Shehu, Shaib Abdulazeez

Abstract:
Calcite and dolomite mining have created numerous environmental problems such as destruction of landscape, damage to natural drainage, pollution and destruction of natural habitats in Igara region of Edo state, Nigeria. The purpose of this study is to assess the water and soil qualities of Ikpeshi in Edo state where Freedom Group of Companies is currently quarrying calcite and dolomite. Samples of water and soil were taken separately for analyses from ten and five locations respectively. Tests were carried out to determine Temperature, pH, Total dissolved solids, Total suspended solids, Total Solid, Hardness, Total Alkalinity, Chloride, Sulphite, Phosphorus, Sodium, Magnesium, Potassium, Calcium, organic carbon, Organic matter, Organic nitrogen, Exchangeable Cation, and Exchangeable Base. All the water samples tested have a temperature, pH, odour, colour, Total Dissolved Solid, Total suspended Solid and Hardness values within the recommended standards by World Health Organization (WHO). However, total alkalinity values are below the permissible level of 200mg/l. Also, the chloride values which range from 311.6 to 399.4 is above the World Health Organization (WHO) standard of 250mg/l for drinking water. The result of the soil analyses shows that all the parameters tested are within the permissible levels except for phosphorus which ranges from 14.1 to 22.3mg/kg which is higher than the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) permissible level of 7.0mg/kg.

Keywords: calcite, dolomite, habitat, total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, ph, exchangeable cation, exchangeable base, alkalinity

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