Geochemistry Of Awi Sandstone, Calabar Flank, Southeastern (Se) Nigeria: Constraints On The Metal Enrichment, Provenance, And Tectonic Setting

Abstract

As the global population continues to rise, the search for crucial metals has become a primary concern for mineral explorers due to their non-renewable nature. To keep pace with increasing need for solid mineral exploration and exploitation, it is then important to find new deposits and engage in sustainable extraction practices. The aim of the study is to analyze the geochemical composition of Awi sandstone, focusing on metal enrichment, origin, and the tectonic setting of the protolith. For this purpose, fifteen (15) fresh samples from the Awi sandstones were collected for geochemical analysis using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results indicate that Ba, Rb, Sr, Cr, Zn, Ni, Y, and Cu are present in higher concentrations while As, Be, Bi, Cd, Hf, Hg, Mo, Sc, U, and Pb are depleted. The findings also suggest an increase in abundance of LREE and a decrease in availability of HREE. The TiO₂ versus Zr discrimination diagram with the primary element suggests that the parent rock of Awi sandstone was mainly of intermediate-felsic igneous origin. The classification plot of Na₂O+K₂O to SiO₂, and the R1-R2 plot, indicate that the majority of Awi sandstones originated from granodiorite protolith. The plots comparing Th/Yb to Ta/Yb, Th/Ta to Yb, and (K₂O/Na₂O) to SiO₂ suggest that these Awi sandstones were formed in a passive to active continental margin environment. So which of the elements listed may probably denote crucial ore deposit.