Abstract: The trace elements level in five tailings of gold ore samples from Maga mining area, Danko-Wasagu were determined using proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) method. Si content in the samples studied was found remarkably high. Si concentrations varied from 287099.5 to 550376.7 ppm with a mean value of 398260.04 ppm. Significantly increased amount of the elements K, Fe, S, P, Ti, Ca, Cr. Ba, Sr, Zr, Cu, Rb, Zn, Sr, Cu, and Ni was observed in the samples as well. Concentrations of Fe ranged from 124072 to 333870.6 ppm with a mean of 111296.54 ppm. The mean concentrations of S, Ti, Pb, P, Cr, Ca, Ba, V, Zr, Mn, Cu, Sr, Zn, Rb, and Ni were 3623.3, 3299.3, 1628.025, 1263.54, 1158.22, 733.1, 687.25, 346.6, 284.7, 250.9, 197.74, 177.36, 101.67, 86.65 and 13.4 ppm respectively. But the concentrations of most elements were higher than the standard concentration. The presence of the elevated amount of the hazardous heavy metals in the area was primarily due to extremely high concentration of these elements in the gold ores being excavated from mining area. The legitimacy of the method was done by analyzing Standard Reference Material NIST (Obsidian rock) standard 278 and found to be compatible. PIXE is a multi element systematic technique used for the determination of major, minor and trace elements in the range of parts per million (ppm). My study has been carried out at the Centre for Energy Research and Development (CERD), Obafemi Awulowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, Osun state Nigeria. Using 1.7 MeV Tandem accelerators. The X-ray spectra were measured by a Si (Li) detector and analyzed off-line using GUPIX software.
Keywords: PIXE, Trace elements, Tailings of gold ores.
Title: TRACE ELEMENT ANALYSIS BY PIXE IN TAILINGS OF GOLD ORE SAMPLES OF MAGA MINING AREA OF DANKO-WASAGU
Author: BUHARI SAMAILA
International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations
ISSN 2348-1218 (print), ISSN 2348-1226 (online)
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