GEOCHEMICAL STUDY OF GOLD ENRICHMENT IN STREAM SEDIMENTS IN BUTU PAIKO, NORTH-WESTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

Stream sediments are widely employed in reconnaissance exploration for gold especially in areas where outcrops are scarce and the overburden thick. Geochemical study of gold enrichment in 15 stream sediments samples in Butu, North Western- Nigeria were carried out. The result of the field geological mapping revealed four lithologic units namely: granite-gneiss, schist, granite and pegmatite, which occurred as intrusion into the older lithology. Trace elements analysis in the stream sediments revealed that, Arsenic (As), Colbalt (Co), Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb), Strontium (Sr) and Zinc (Zn) are depleted and while Gold is considerable enriched in the stream sediments. Thus, Stream sediments geochemistry has been shown to be a suitable exploration technique for gold within the Butu area