A Geological Assessment Of Natural Resources In Umueje And Environs

Abstract

The changes in the environments are persistent natural phenomena such as tectonic events and weathering since chemical and physical activities remain inevitable. These activities play a crucial role in particle size distribution where water cycling and plant growth also acts as an agent of denudation. This study involves the analysis and field investigation of some distinct lithostratigraphic units mapped in the study area, namely; the friable sandstone unit, carbonaceous dark grey shale unit, Dark grey-black shale unit with sandstone, ironstone, and shale unit.  The outcrop description and lithostratigraphy of the study area correlate to Nsukka Formation and Ajali Sandstone. The particle size distribution parameters show that the area is dominated with fine medium-grained, moderately well sorted, and dominantly systematic skewed indicative of a shallow marine sandy environment of deposition, which is an indication that the mapped Nsukka formation has good potentials for both surface water and groundwater resources. Further geographical analysis showed that the most valued resources found in the study area are some economic earth materials, which include; Ironstone, sandstone, laterite, and clay.