SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF THE GEOLOGY OF NIGERIA FIELD EXERCISE 2014

The geological field trip exercise of the students of the department of earth sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of technology, Ogbomosho, Oyo state held from 5^th of December through 9^th of December 2014. Different geological materials and/or equipment such as geological hammer, compass clinometer, hand held lens, field camera, field notes, measuring tapes, sample bags and global positioning system (GPS) were used for surface identification of outcrops and to obtain fresh samples. The objectives of the exercise to students are as follows;

1. To orientate the students in the aspect of evaluation, identification and mapping of various outcrop and landforms within an area with respect to mineralogical composition in Nigeria.
2. Exposing students to obtaining a practical experience in the techniques and principles involved in geological field mapping such as Identification and measurement of the physical structures such as joints, strikes, dips on the rocks.

3.      To train students to be able to recognize the various structural, textural and other geological features existing in rock and interpret the geological history of a rock formation, bearing in mind, the various geological principles.

4. To furnish the student with the geological overview of Nigeria, both the basement complex and the sedimentary basins formation and infer the geological history of an area and possibly the economic importance.

The areas covered include Akure, Igarra, Auchi, Fuga-Agenebode, Owo, Ifon to mention a few across four statesto mention a few seeing rare features from basement complex of south-western Nigeria to parts of the Bida and Anambra basins. The Basement complex rocks are rocks formed by processes about 2.5 billion – 600 million years at orogenic cycles during crustal evolution. The most recognized orogenic cycle attributed to Nigeria is the Pan-African orogeny about 600 million years ago which are part of the Nigeria Basement complex.  Five major groups of rocks have been classified according Prof. M.A Rahaman in 1973.

·      Migmatite-gneiss complex which comprises biotitic and biotitic hornblende gneisses, quartzites and quartz schist and small lenses of calc-silicate rocks.

·         Slightly-migmatised paraschists and meta-igneous rocks which consist of politic schists, quartzite’s amphilibolites, talcose, rocks, meta-conglomerates, marbles and calc-silicate rocks.

·      Charnockitic rocks.

·      Older Granites which comprise rocks varying in composition from granodiorite to true granites and potassic syenite.

·      Unmetamorphosed dolerite dykes believed to be the youngest.

These rock types depicts features such as mineralogical composition, prevailing temperature and pressure in the area at the time of emplacement and scale of occurrence. They rocks observed during the field trip include, Charnockites, Porphyritic Granites, Polymictic Metaconglomerates, Diorite, Quartzites, Hornblende-Hornfels, Calc-silicate, Syenite, Lamprophyre, Fault Breccia, Marble and Phyllite.

The sedimentary aspect of the fieldtrip was characterized by places where considerable thicknesses of sediments have accumulated (in places up to 20 km). Sedimentary basins are widespread both onshore and offshore. The sedimentary basins of Nigeria formed during the Cretaceous period belong generally to the post Hercynian basin of West Africa. These sedimentary basins are result of pre-existing tectonic forces in the past that affected the floor of the basins. Most sedimentary basins in Nigeria consist of different types of sedimentary deposits which occur in different environments. The sedimentary basins comprise different Formations as a result of distinctive sediments that make up the lithologies of each type area and the paleontologies that describe them. There are 6 sedimentary basins in Nigeria which are Benue trough, Bornu basin, Sokoto basin, Mid-Niger (Bida) basin, Dahomey basin, Niger Delta basin. The basins mapped during the fieldtrip are the Bida basin believed to be of Late Cretaceous times and the Anambra basin (failed arm of the Benue trough) believed to be of Campanian- Paleocene of age both formed from the Santonian tectonic inversion depositional cycle of fully marine Mamu shale formation to fluvio-deltaic Ajali sandstones. Also observed is a part of the Abeokuta formation at Ifon, Ondo state. Rock types include Sandstones, Shales and Metaconglomerates. The paleo-environmental reconstruction of the areas observed where also attempted with the aim of determine the origin, processes, mode of formation and time at which the rocks of that area occurred giving an insight to how the basin formed as a key to unlocking its potentials.

In Conclusion, the various rock types and sequences of the event that led to the evolution of similar rock types in other parts of the country to the south-western Basement complex and sedimentary basins of Nigeria, a direct correlation can be drawn between them broadly suggesting the origin of the rocks in Nigeria can be linked to;

·         Magmatic Intrusion

·         Metamorphism and Deformation

·         Sedimentation

The field exercise has thereby increased the awareness of students to the benefits of studying geology in Nigeria as a pre-requisite to National development towards the urgent need for young, intelligent and adventurous geologists. The impact of geology is limitless has it is been linked to almost all sectors of the economy for example the manufacturing sector, energy sector, environmental and agricultural sectors and with recent studies, the health sector through medical geology. Finally, more geological and purposeful research has to be carried out in the areas of geochemistry, geochronology, and structural geology on the rocks of the south-western part of Nigeria to help in properly understanding their formation process, age relationship, and structural relationship which could lead to wealth generation in the Agricultural, Manufacturing, Oil and Gas Industries.

PICTURES SECTION

Open Folds with distinct axial planes on a massive crystalline rock

A section of the Ajali sandstone showing Herringbone structure.

                                                     Exposure of the Mamu shale unit at Uzzemba

Lecturers and students taking measurements on an outcrop

 

Marble found at a quarry site, igue ake along Auchi- Igarra road showing grade of metamorphic alteration of calcium carbonate

A bluish charnockite outcrop with microcline phenocrysts along Akure-Owo expressway 

An expansive and lowlying quartzite outcrop having recumbent folds and mullion structure.

A Gash structure on the left and Feather structure on the right found along joint plane on a phyllite outcrop

An exposure with Phyllite, Calc silicate, Meta-conglomerate and Lampropyre dykes all occurring in it.

By Oyeleke Oyedotun
oyedotun001@gmail.com

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Maiden Edition of Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society South Western Zonal Students’ Conference, UNILORIN 2015

The fireworks of grand luminosity was lit finally in the department of Geology, UNILORIN. The better by far conference _NMGS SOUTH WEST student Mini-Conferences _ the maiden edition was held at the University of Ilorin did live up to its billing.
Distinguished personalities in the World of Geosciences across the nation; Academician, entrepreneurs, practitioners and students alike from different institutions graced the occasion. The programme held from 15-16^th January, 2015 and a field trip to Share in Kwara State on 17^th of January. It was indeed intellectually uplifting. Some of the dignitaries who attended were Prof M.A. Rahaman, Prof S.O. Akande, Prof S. Dada (first Geologist to discover the oldest rock in Nigeria), Mr Mike Ale, Mr Aderoju Adeolu, Mr Ayodele Awi, Mrs Abidemi Belgore just to mention a few.
The opening ceremony was ignited by several speeches one of which was a lecture delivered by Prof. M.A Rahaman on the conference theme: “Geosciences the Bedrock of Nigerian Economic Development”, cocktail party and film show, exhibition… The second day was intensified by various presentation from Erudite with wide range of experience and acute understanding in the field of Geosciences. The student weren’t left out either, a couple of students were given the floor to present their papers. Nevertheless, the intervarsity quiz competition which was no other but an electrifying moment were 10 institutions with two representatives each had to slog it out in a geoscientific mental warfare. At the end UNILAG came out top with UNILORIN and UNIZIK taking first runner up and second runner up respectively.

                In an interview we had with Mr. Mike Ale the CEO of Male Integrated Limited at the red carpet after his talk on hydrogeology; he highlighted several of opportunities his company “Male Integrated” had for student in the field of geosciences, helping them hone their skills, become better and talented in their course of study. He advised that students visit www.maleintegrated.com to get every info of necessity about. The Male Integrated Limited. Some students however got their chance of being tutored on software like PETREL (taken by Mr. Adeoye) and Refract Solution (a software for analysis multiple dipping interface by the seismic refraction method which was taken by Mr. Aderoju Adeolu).

                The event was indeed an icon of success and an epitome to be idealised by other institutions affiliated to NMGS. We can only hope that the next host does a better job, after it was decided during the event at an AGM (Annual General Meeting), with every students satisfied with the experience so far; a unanimous decision was reached that there should be yet another mid-western conference next year.

                It was a job weldone by the organizers. 

Mr Aderoju Adeolu during the Refract Solution technical section

Class on Refract Solution

Left to Right:  Mr Aderoju Adeolu 2nd left, Prof S.O. Akande middle left, Prof S. Dada middle right, Dr Adekeye 4th right with members of the South West NMGS student executives

Udeh Chiamaka, Chairperson Local Organising Comitee

Mr Ayodele AWI, principal consultant of ACMEBOUND (right) been an interview by Iroko Samson (left)

Mr Mike Ale ( CEO Male Integrated Limited)

To view more pictures of the conference click here



Other Key contributors and Partners: Dr Adekeye, Mr Omojaro Tolu (President of NMGS UNILORIN chapter), Udeh Chiamaka (Chairperson LOC), Mr Aderiran Emmanuel (Snr Geologist KDF Konsult Nigeria Limited, Mr A.D Adedoyin, Kolban Geo-Tech ltd, MIXED GRILLS, SHELL... 

Media Crew: Iroko Samson, Akinrimisi Tobi, Ogundahunsi Tomi, Ariyo Oluwafemi

Photography: Ariyo Oluwafemi

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