Malaysian Journal of Geosciences (MJG)

This research evaluates groundwater quality in Effurun, southern Nigeria, particularly focusing on contamination from solid waste sources such as dumpsites and abattoirs in Osubi, Ugbomro, and Agbarho. The geophysical assessments to identify contamination levels in the study area were employed by integrating Wenner-Werner arrays and vertical electrical sounding (VES) data. Using the WINRESIST and RES 2D inversion software, resistivity models revealed significant contamination at values below 50 Ohm-meters, with lateral extents ranging from 49 to 85 meters and depths up to 6.39 meters. Notably, the Osubi abattoir exhibited the highest contamination level, while some areas in Ugbomro dumpsite and Agbarho dumpsite remained less affected. The findings highlight the vulnerability of unconfined aquifers characterized by weak protective layers. The subsurface pollution in the study areas necessitates urgent improvements in waste management and groundwater protection strategies. Additionally, the results from Dan Zarrouk parameters indicated low aquifer protective capacity in key areas, correlating with observed contamination. This study underscores the critical need for targeted interventions to safeguard groundwater resources amid rising industrialization and waste generation in the region.

Land use and land cover alterations have profound implications for environmental sustainability and socio-economic development, particularly in regions experiencing rapid urbanization and population growth. This research investigates the dynamics of land use and land cover (LULC) in Kurigram District, Bangladesh, over a period of three decades from 1994 to 2024. The objective of this research is to assess changes in land use land cover patterns, with a particular emphasis on urbanization, agricultural practices, forest cover, and water bodies, and their implications for environmental management and regional development. Utilizing four sets of Landsat satellite imagery from 1994, 2004, 2014, and 2024, the research employs a combination of unsupervised classification, NDVI, and MNDWI techniques to map as well as analyze LULC dynamics. Findings indicate significant modifications in LULC dynamics between 1994 to 2024. Water bodies experienced a gradual decline, losing approximately 8,198.66 hectares over the study period, yet maintaining a consistent percentage of total land cover. Forest area fluctuated, peaking in 2014 before declining in 2024, while agricultural land showed notable variations, ranging from 39.69% in 1994 to 68.77% in 2024. NDVI and MNDWI analyses show declining water bodies (10.72% to 7.81% by 2024), fluctuating mixed land cover (30.32% to 26.27%), and dynamic agricultural land changes (39.69% to 68.77%). MNDWI reveals stable water areas (7.50% to 10.57%) and minor land fluctuations (89.43% to 92.50%), indicating terrestrial dominance over time. For accuracy assessment, the study compared a 2024 classified image with 40 ground truth data points, achieving a 90% overall classification accuracy. Utilizing Kappa Coefficient, the study found a substantial agreement (0.8703) between classified and referenced data, affirming 64% to 81% accuracy in the unsupervised classification, ensuring reliable LULC mapping results. The findings emphasize the importance of monitoring and addressing LULC changes to ensure environmental sustainability and socio-economic resilience, environmental management, urban planning in rapidly developing areas like Kurigram District.

The current investigation is focused on determining porosity and permeability, among other parameters, in a producing Niger Delta field in the Coastal Swamp Depositional Belt. Well logs like gamma ray logs, resistivity logs, caliper logs, density logs, and compressional wave logs in digital format were utilized in this study. The methodology began by filtering logs to eliminate erroneous spikes that might affect the accuracy of the outcomes. Identifying reservoir zones of interest and establishing correlations between wells were key steps in this work. These correlations revealed the consistency of shale and sand packages across the field. Finally, petrophysical characteristics were computed through empirical relationships. Results reveal that reservoirs exhibit an average gross thickness of 50 to 329 ft, a net thickness of 40 to 213, a net-to-gross ratio of 0.496 to 0.924, a shale volume of 0.054 to 0.429, an average total porosity of 0.256 to 0.407, an effective porosity of 0.202 to 0.404, water saturation of 0.036 to 0.431, and permeability of 2108 to 4932 millidarcy (md). Results also showed the reservoir units have fair-to-good porosity, exceptional permeability, and good-to-excellent net-to-gross characteristics. Overall, the comprehensive petrophysical analytical technique has increased confidence in discovering hydrocarbon by giving additional useful information into the reservoir quality distribution of the field.

Geological mapping of basement rocks in Kaduna Polytechnic Main Campus and its Environs was carried out. The study area is bounded by latitude 10o30’0.00”N to 10036’0.00”N and longitude 007024’0.00”E to 007030’0.00”E of sheet 123 Kaduna. The study aims at identification and classification of the rock units within the study area. Results of the Geological Mapping within the study area reveals that the study area falls within the Migmatite Gneiss Complex of Nigeria. The result also shows that there are various structural features prevalent within the study area namely; fractures, joints, faults and intrusion of quartz veins. Rose diagram generated shows structural trend of mineralization along northwest to southeast (NW-SE) direction. Petrographic studies on the rock samples indicates that the study area is predominantly underlain by the Migmatite Gneiss Complex with Medium to coarse grain Migmatitic Gneisses and Amphibolite which is part of the Older Granite suite of the basement complex whose mineralogy, color, relative time of emplacement, and texture vary greatly. The results of petrographic analysis of Migmatitic Gneiss shows the modal mineralogical composition of Medium to coarse grain granite reveals a percentage ratios of 40% Orthoclase feldspar: 40% Quartz: 20% Biotite whereas Amphibilite has 40% Biotite: 30% Quartz and 30% Orthoclase feldspar. The rock aggregate in the study can provide good construction materials such as in the construction of roads, bridges, houses etc. The Geophysical investigation indicate the presence of shallow layer of disturbed soil as the top lithology (< 320 m/s) underlain by basement rocks with high seismic velocities of > 2139 m/s.

The polymorphism of alite (C3S) has been subjected to examination through various factors, such as the burning process and cooling. This study is centered on investigating the impact of grinding on alite polymorphism. To determine the chemical composition, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis was employed. The mineralogical characterization was conducted utilizing X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), complemented by the Rietveld method. Morphological assessments of the ground clinker were carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in conjunction with EDS microanalysis. XRD analysis, performed on both gray and white cement as well as clinker, has revealed that mechanical treatment (grinding), aside from reducing particle size, actively induces the transformation of alite polymorphism from monoclinic M1 to monoclinic M3.

Geoelectrical resistivity technology (GRT) was utilized to determine the potential and the protective capacity of the groundwater system in Ogba–Ndoni–Egbema Local Government Area (ONELGA) of Rivers State, Southern Nigeria. The deliverable of the research work was to determine groundwater potential zones and vulnerability by using vertical electrical sounding (VES) and borehole (BH) logs. GRT method applied Schlumberger 1-D vertical electrical sounding (VES). ABEM Terameter SAS 300 B resistivity meter was used to acquire 10 VES data while IPI2Win software tool was used to estimate the primary geo-electric indices. Lithostratigraphic analyses from two borehole (BH) logs further elucidate aquifer characteristics, facilitating the identification of desirable aquifer layers for groundwater storage and transmission. The best shallowest aquifer for the first BH log is fine to medium sand (whitish) with a thickness of 21m and ranges from 9m to 30 m. The aquifer in the second BH log is the whitish medium coarse sand, which is 9m thick and is situated between depths of 6 to 15m. Primary and secondary geoelectric parameters were employed to generate maps of hydrodynamic properties for the shallowest aquifer unit widely exploited in the region, enabling efficient groundwater management. The resistivity values for the most superficial aquifer varied between 265 and 919 Ωm and, the thickness of this layer ranged from 6.9 to 26.7 meters, with depths spanning from 8.6 to 43.3 meters. The findings revealed a range of potential index parameters such as transmissivity (2.366-5.734 m2/day), transverse resistance (1828.5-23576.1 Ωm2), and hydraulic conductivity (0.205-0.480 m/day), indicating favorable groundwater potential but inadequate protective capability, as indicated by the longitudinal conductance index (0.013109-0.030237 Siemens). Given the significant population residing in the local government due to its economic activities, it is recommended to implement well-managed waste disposal measures to prevent the infiltration of leachates as well as other organic and inorganic wastes into the naturally vulnerable underlying aquifer units.

This research aims to geospatially model crop yield in a FUTA farm to enhance productivity and management practices. Primary and secondary data were collected for seven planting seasons (2014-2021), including maize seeds, NPK fertilizers, urea used, harvesting dates, and yield measurements. GNSS observation was used to determine planting boundaries, while satellite imagery and climate records were used for secondary data. The study examined the vegetation indices (NDVI and GCI) of the farm between 2012 and 2022. Then, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) was used to model crop yield in the study area using the primary and secondary data and the NDVI, and GCI values. Result showed that Vegetative indices (NDVI and GCI) showed an increase between 2014 and 2016, while between 2017 and 2019, there was a decrease. In 2021, there was an increase in vegetative indices values, indicating healthier crops. The decline in crop yield between 2017 and 2019 was not coincidental, but it is believed that the decline in crop health is responsible for the corresponding reduction. The ANN model had a regression coefficient of 0.73282, and the coefficient of determination was 0.5176. The maximum and minimum crop yield values were 24.7 and 25.26 in 2016, and 5 and 4.01 in 2018, respectively. It was observed from that the minimum value of difference is -9.883708757 while the maximum value of difference is 1.451557122. The root means square error (RMSE) and the Mean Absolute Error (MAE) are 0.4296 and 0.2947, respectively. Modelled crop yield values were close to actual yield values, except for 2017 when a large difference was observed due to herdsmen invasion into the school farm. Since, the model showed close correlations with actual yield values, making it a recommended model for predicting crop yield in the study area.

The highway geotechnical properties of quartzite-derived lateritic soil from Ijebu-Ijesa were investigated with a view to determining the suitability or otherwise for flexible highway construction.The field investigations included the study of the geological and geotechnical settings of the area and collection of four bulk samples within the study area. The laboratory investigation procedures involved the use of air dried sample which were subjected to laboratory classification tests including; grain size distribution and consistency limits (liquid limit and plasticity limit). Other engineering tests often employed in evaluating highway sub-grade material which include Compaction test, California Bearing Ratio (CBR) and Unconfined Compression test (UCS), in accordance with British Standard 1377 (1990) with some modification where necessary were also conducted. Results of engineering tests revealed that the specific gravity of the soil ranges from 2.32 to 3.10. The results of grain size distribution analysis revealed that the soil is well graded. The amount of fines of the soil samples range from 28.7% to 35.55%.The liquid limit for the soil samples ranges from 28.5% to 35.40%.Casagrande chart classification showed that the soil samples have low to medium plasticity. The maximum dry density ranges from 1850Kg/m3 to 1890Kg/m3 with their optimum moisture contents ranging from 13.08% to 17.98%. Unsoaked California Bearing Ratio of the soil ranges from 0.75% to5.3%.Unconfined Compressive Strength of the soil ranges from 132.18KN/m2 to 135.00KN/m2 and 1200.50KN/m2 to 1640.92KN/m2for uncured and cured respectively. Findings from this study indicate that the soil is suitable to be used as subgrade material in the construction of flexible pavement.

The Makran Subduction Zone, straddling the nothern Arabian Sea along the borders of Pakistan and Iran, represents one of the most seismically complex regions on Earth, where the Arabian, Eurasian, and Indian plates converge. This study delves into the seismic intricacies of Eastern Makran, an area delineated by a labyrinth of tectonic demarcations including the Zendan, Jiroft, and Ornach-Nal faults, to uncover the underpinnings of its seismicity through an analysis of focal mechanism solutions (FMS) for earthquakes occurring between 1990 and 2019. Utilizing the Kikuchi and Kanamori method for modeling teleseismic P-waves and their surface reflections, this research filters through the data, discarding those compromised by noise, to present a clear picture of seismic activity ranging in magnitude from 4.0 to 7.8 Mw. Contrary to the expected prevalence of major earthquakes, findings reveal a rarity of such events in Eastern Makran, suggesting a nuanced interaction between the Indian and Eurasian plates marked by anticlockwise rotation. This rotation potentially fosters the isolation of microplates, hinting at a dynamic interplay of tectonic forces. Our comprehensive 30-year perspective provides new insights into the focal depths and fault plane solutions, contributing to a better understanding of the seismic behavior and tectonic mechanisms governing the Eastern Makran Subduction Zone.

Siltation, the accumulation of sediment particles in aquatic environments, poses significant challenges to water resource management, ecological health, and infrastructure maintenance. To effectively monitor and manage siltation, accurate data acquisition methods are crucial. Bathymetric data offer high-resolution spatial data, allowing for precise identification of sediment accumulation zones and the tracking of sediment transport pathways. This study focuses on siltation monitoring within an inland water channel: Abuloma River, using the bathymetric surveying data, which involves measuring the depth and morphology of water bodies. The bathymetric data was acquired using MK III single beam dual frequency echo sounders, processed and analyzed using Qinsy software. ArcGIS software was used to quantify sediment deposition rates, distribution, and changes in underwater topography. The result of the study shows a siltation rate of 762.249m3/year. This study underscores the importance of bathymetric surveying as a powerful tool in siltation monitoring efforts. It emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary collaboration between hydrologists, engineers, ecologists, and GIS specialists to effectively analyze and interpret the collected data. Ultimately, siltation monitoring using bathymetric surveying data contributes to a holistic approach in managing sediment-related challenges and promoting sustainable water resource management practices.