The appraisal of a proposed barite quarry in Akpet Area, Cross River State, from resistivity investigation

Abstract

Electrical resistivity survey was done at a site at Akpet area, Cross River State to evaluate the subsurface for barite mineralization. Both vertical electrical sounding (VES) and horizontal resistivity profiling (HRP) were performed in conjunction with surface geological mapping in the area. In both VES and HRP, the Schlumberger electrode array was adopted and measured resistivity data interpreted using conventional curve matching techniques and iterative computer modelling. Results show that three (3) zones designated A, B and C with barite mineralization occur within a depth of 5m in the subsurface at the project site. The combined high specific gravity of 4.4 g/cc and high BaSO4 (>92%) show that the barite of the study area are of high quality. The practical recovery of over 8 tons of barite at the project site shortly after this report which revealed the occurrence of large deposit of barite in the area; show that the applicability of the resistivity method in the search of barite and other minerals alike is very reliable.


KEY WORDS: Barite, resistivity, subsurface, recovery.


Global Journal of Geological Sciences Vol.2(2) 2004: 171-175