Petrography of basement rocks in parts of Ikom and Iso – Bendeghia, Southeastern Nigeria

Abstract

The petrography of somepetrography of basement rocks in parts of Ikom and Iso – Bendeghia, in Cross Rivers State, Southeastern Nigeria were evaluated. The rock samples collected from the study area were subjected to field observation delineate the parameters for their field names and petrographic evaluation to decipher in common mineral composition of the rock samples. Thin sections were prepared from rock samples collected from the sample points in the area to estimate the percentage composition of minerals. This petrographic study was able to decipher rock type within the study area. The basement rocks found in the area include igneous rocks (pegmatites, granites, dolerites/basalts, charnockites) and the metamorphic rocks (schists, gneisses, granite gneiss, quartzites). The average modal composition of minerals in granite, pegmatites, dolerites, charnockites and gneiss was obtained from the modal composition of the rock samples. Some of the schistsfrom Iso – Bendeghia area were weathered rock bodies and the gneisses were mainly granite gneiss.