Authors :
Oluwatoyin O. Akinola; Oladimeji L. Ademilua
Volume/Issue :
Volume 8 - 2023, Issue 11 - November
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/2yffymsj
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/4mxt7szr
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10213165
Abstract :
Nigeria is a sub-Saharan Africa country, its
closeness to the equator precipitates tropical type of
climate. The consequence of the alternating raining and
dry seasons coupled with relatively high humidity
throughout the year triggers severe chemical decay
which causes rock rot in Ekiti area of SW Nigeria.
Decomposition of rocks through intense in-situ chemical
weathering and selective leaching resulted in prevalence
of laterites, lateritic soils and saprolite in the area.
Lateritization and formation of saprolite in the area is
consequent on de-silicification processes during which
substantial alkali and alkali earth elements are leached
from the granite. This paper investigates and report
geochemical features of granite weathered in-situ in
Ikere-Ekiti, Ado-Ekiti and its environs. Analytical result
reveals silica contents of the laterite (55.03-63.22 %;
average, 58.98%) is lower than saprolite (59.31-65.41%;
average, 62.92%). The ratio (Fe2O3 + Al2O3): SiO2 for
the ferruginous laterite (0.55) and saprolite (0.49)
suggests the two weathering products are laterites with
varying colours. Fe2O3 contents in laterite (7.53-11.03%;
average, 9.31%) is higher than saprolite (2.65-4.26%;
average, 3.81%). Ternary diagram (SiO2-AI2O3-Fe2O3)
which show maturity of laterites classifies the weathered
materials as products of weak lateritization.
Keywords :
Ekiti, Nigeria, Saprolite, Ferruginous Laterite, De-Silicification, Lateritization.
Nigeria is a sub-Saharan Africa country, its
closeness to the equator precipitates tropical type of
climate. The consequence of the alternating raining and
dry seasons coupled with relatively high humidity
throughout the year triggers severe chemical decay
which causes rock rot in Ekiti area of SW Nigeria.
Decomposition of rocks through intense in-situ chemical
weathering and selective leaching resulted in prevalence
of laterites, lateritic soils and saprolite in the area.
Lateritization and formation of saprolite in the area is
consequent on de-silicification processes during which
substantial alkali and alkali earth elements are leached
from the granite. This paper investigates and report
geochemical features of granite weathered in-situ in
Ikere-Ekiti, Ado-Ekiti and its environs. Analytical result
reveals silica contents of the laterite (55.03-63.22 %;
average, 58.98%) is lower than saprolite (59.31-65.41%;
average, 62.92%). The ratio (Fe2O3 + Al2O3): SiO2 for
the ferruginous laterite (0.55) and saprolite (0.49)
suggests the two weathering products are laterites with
varying colours. Fe2O3 contents in laterite (7.53-11.03%;
average, 9.31%) is higher than saprolite (2.65-4.26%;
average, 3.81%). Ternary diagram (SiO2-AI2O3-Fe2O3)
which show maturity of laterites classifies the weathered
materials as products of weak lateritization.
Keywords :
Ekiti, Nigeria, Saprolite, Ferruginous Laterite, De-Silicification, Lateritization.
