1D resistivity inversion technique in the mapping of igneous intrusives; A step to sustainable quarry development

• Main Authors: M.A. Nwachukwu, L.I. Nwosu, P.A. Uzoije, C.A. Nwoko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Central Mining Institute (Główny Instytut Górnictwa) 2017-01-01
• Series: Journal of Sustainable Mining
• Subjects: Geo-electric; Diabase; Trial pit; Land degradation; Sustainability; Benue trough
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2300396017300514

The use of trial pits as a first step in quarry site development causes land degradation and results in more failure than success for potential quarry investors in some parts of the world. In this paper, resistivity, depth and distance values derived from 26 Vertical Electric Soundings (VES) and 2 profiling inversion sections were successfully used to evaluate a quarry site prior to development. The target rock Diabase (Dolerite) was observed and it had a resistivity range of 3.0 × 104 –7. 8 × 106 Ω-m, and was clearly distinguishable from associated rocks with its bright red color code on the AGI 1D inversion software. This target rock was overlain by quartzite, indurate shale and mudstone as overburden materials. The quartzite, with its off-red colour, has a resistivity range of 2.0 × 103–2.9 × 105 Ω-m, while the indurate shale, with a yellowish-brown colour, showed resistivity values ranging from 6.1 × 102 – 2.8 × 105 Ω-m. Topsoil was clayey, with a resistivity range from 8 – 8.6 × 102u Ω-m and depths of 0.3–1.8 m, often weathered and replaced by associated rocks outcrops. The diabase rock, in the three prospective pits mapped, showed thicknesses of between 40 and 76 m across the site. The prospective pits were identified to accommodate an estimated 2,569,450 tonnes of diabase with an average quarry pit depth of 50 m. This figure was justified by physical observations made at a nearby quarry pit and from test holes. Communities were able to prepare a geophysical appraisal of the intrusive body in their domain for economic planning and sustainability of the natural resource.