Geophysical Exploration of Gravel Deposits in Abudu Area of Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The need to prospect for gravel deposit in Abudu area of Edo State, Nigeria became inevitable in view of the fact that it has greatly aided many developed and developing nations of the world commercially. The geophysical study was carried out using vertical electrical sounding (VES) of electrical resistivity method, employing Schumberger configuration techniques based on six (06) points per decade operation to justify the study of assembling resistivity data. Ten (10) fairly distributed VES in eight (08) different stations of Abudu Area was carried out to investigate the subsurface Lithologies or rock types. So as to detect gravel deposits. The software or package IP12WIN utilizing computer iteration was used for interpretation of apparent resistivity data. The result of the geophysical survey showed that gravel deposit was intercepted at a depth varying from about 25.0m to 140.0m below sea level while its thicknesses varied from about 2.0m to 120.0m. The resistivity of the detected gravel deposit varied from about 1000 0hm-m to 7000 0hm-m. Area of probable gravel deposits formations and their thicknesses have been identified especially for commercial purposes.

Journal of the Nigerian Association of Mathematical Physics, Volume 19 (November, 2011), pp 513 – 518