Characterisation of Tailings from Itakpe Iron Ore Mine, Itakpe, Nigeria

Knowledge of tailings characteristics is required for utilisation and management purposes in the mining and construction industry. Tailings from the mine waste dumps at Itakpe iron ore mine were collected and analysed in the laboratory to determine their chemical and physical characteristics and these include; permeability, porosity, specific gravity, particle size distribution, chemical composition and bioavailability factor of element. Geochemical speciation with quantitative X-ray powder diffraction was used to evaluate the chemical and mineral composition of Itakpe iron ore tailings. The aim is to offer base line data necessary to assess metal mobility and bioavailability. The distribution of heavy metals such as Cu, Ni, Cd, Cr, Zn and Fe was determined using multi- step sequential extraction. The results obtained indicate that the permeability is 6.24 x 10-3 cm/sec; porosity is 35%; and specific gravity is 3.58. The tailings is well graded and is sand gravel. Nickel and Zinc was found to be considerably high in exchangeable and bound to carbonates fraction which are mobile region and is bound to Fe – Mn oxides which is slightly mobile region but the higher concentration of Ni found in residual fraction. The implication of this result is that Nickel and Zinc partially enter into the food chain. Chromium and Cadmium concentration result indicated that these metals can easily enter into the food chain because of their presence in the mobile region and their higher mobility percentage.

Evaluation of Geotourism Potential of Eruku and its Environs: A Case for Ilado Hill

Geotourism potential of Eruku and its environs with emphasis on Ilado hill was appraised.The methods adopted in this work includes geological field mapping and interview. From the field mapping exercise, the rocks in Eruku and its environs include migmatite, gneisses, amphibolite granites, diorite and pegmatite. The tourist attractions include remnant of ancient city wall (Odi Ilu), joining wall (Odi Abumo) and Ilado hill. Ilado hill was also discovered to be an abandoned ancient city with city gate made of gold with full regalia of African administrative offices. The conclusion drawn from this work is that Ilado hill fulfilled all the requirements to be a tourist destination, and hence, it is a good source of recreation while also serving as source of income for the Eruku City and government at large.

Assessment of Gneiss-Derived Residual Soils as Materials Used in Road Pavement Structures

Failure of highway pavement and collapse of building in basement complex of Nigeria is often related to the instability of the residual. This study evaluated the strength characteristics of gneiss-derived residual Soils as materials usable for road pavement structures. A total of eleven soil samples derived from granite gneiss were subjected to laboratory geotechnical analyses based on standard practices. The geotechnical analyses reveal the soils’ natural moisture content, specific gravity, grain sizes, consistency limits, shearing strengths, maximum dry density, and optimum moisture content. Based on AASHTO classification, the soil samples are classified as A-7-6, A-6, and A-7-5. The results of the laboratory analyses revealed that the natural moisture content and specific gravity ranged from 8.30 to 22.70% and 2.6 to 2.8 respectively. Particle size analysis reveals that the coarse contents of the soils ranged from 28.8% to 59.8% and amount of fines ranged from 40.2 to 71.2%. The liquid limit ranged from 31.3% to 68.3%, plastic limit ranged from 20% to 28.0%, plasticity index ranged from 4.8% to 38.90% and linear shrinkage ranged from 5.7 to 13.6%. The maximum dry density ranged from 1481 kg/m3 to 1921 kg/m3 and optimum moisture content ranged from 15.2% to 27.6%. Undrained triaxial shear strength (Cu) ranged from 43.0 Kpa to 250.3Kpa, angle of friction ranges from 11.7 to 29.30, and unconfined compressive strength ranged from 153 to 356.5Kpa. The results indicate that the residual soils are poor sub-grade and foundation materials due to their high amount of fines, linear shrinkage values, plasticity, and swelling potential, as well as low maximum dry density.

Perceived Tourism Impacts of Tourists on the Environment of the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City, Philippines

There has been an incredible increase in tourism activities in the Summer Capital of the Philippines, Baguio City, specifically at the Philippine Military Academy over the years. Unfortunately, these tourism activities led to the growth of a variety of environmental pressures. An environment-friendly or a sustainable form of tourism is seen as a solution to this growing problem. A perception analysis of tourists on the impacts of tourism on the environment of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) was undertaken. This is a practical approach to gain information about the extent of environmental effects of tourism activity which will also identify areas that can be improved. The study adopted a survey research design with 109 PMA visitors, mainly women (63.3%), that are randomly selected. Respondents were surveyed through an online questionnaire from February to April 2019. Results of this study revealed that tourism has a moderate impact on the environment of PMA as perceived by the tourists on the different aspects of tourism including: general management, commercial areas, tourist routes and facilities. It also shows that respondents, regardless of gender, have a considerable level of awareness and concern about the effects of tourism on the PMA environment. Although considered as an environmental disturbance it is also offered that when managed properly, tourism is a positive activity benefiting the host community, environment and all stakeholders alike.

Sustainability Management of Unesco Global Geoparks

UNESCO global geoparkUNESCO global geoparks dynamic initiative draws attention of both experts and public by its innovatively holistic approach to conservation, presentation and interpretation of the Earth heritage interrelating the geodiversity of the region with its biodiversity and cultural diversity. The objective of this contribution is to analyse the processes behind the sustainability management of the UNESCO global geoparks.The process analysis of the certification and revalidation schemes of the UNESCO global geoparks reveals a combined application of the interrelated approaches of the sustainability management, in particular the environmental quality management, knowledge management, strategic management and participative management. The environmental quality management, stimulating UNESCO global geoparks to implement their mission, is ensured through the system of initial certification and regular revalidations. The performance of the UNESCO global geoparks is coordinated on the continental and global levels. This networking facilitates an effective implementation of the knowledge management, which consists in the systematic sharing of knowledge and experience among individual geopark representatives. The participative management is implemented not only through the participation of the individual geoparks representatives in the decision making processes of the Global Geoparks Network and continental networks, but mainly through the participation of local actors in the activities of given UNESCO global geopark. The application of the strategic management ensures the long term balanced contribution of UNESCO global geoparks to the sustainable development and cultural identity of the given region. The analysis has shown a specific way in which the selected concepts of the sustainability management are implemented in the evaluation and revalidation procedures, networking and other pillars of the UNESCO global geoparks development.

Spatial Distribution and Patronage of Ecotourism Attractions in Enugu State, Nigeria

This study focused on examining the spatial characteristics and the patronage pattern of attractions and eco-tourism products in Enugu State. Primary and secondary sources of data collection were used to elicit information for the study. The primary sources involved the use of questionnaire survey, interview sessions guided by participatory rural appraisal technique, telephone survey, direct field observation and the use of Geographic Information System techniques. The secondary sources involved the use of documented information in textbooks, journals and registry of eco-tourism attraction across the study area. Findings from the study indicate that forty-one (41) operational ecotourism attractions exist across the study location with the result of the nearest neighbor analysis of 0.93 revealing that ecotourism attractions were randomly distributed across the study area. The study also observed that a total of 6,360 visitors visited and patronized the attractions between 2013 and 2017 with domestic eco-tourists having 56% of the entire visits to the attractions while visits by international eco-tourists recorded 44% of the entire visits. Based on the findings, the study recommended that major stakeholders in the tourism industry (government, non-governmental organizations and host communities) should collaborate and corporate to create an enabling environment for more investment opportunities and organize more ecotourism activities in the area. The study also recommended that managers of ecotourism attractions should employ modern marketing strategies to help create more awareness about the ecotourism attractions and its facilities to the entire world.

Multivariate Analysis and Contamination Studies of Elemental Profile in Ife/Ijesa Goldmine Tailings, Southwestern, Nigeria

The concentration of metals in the tailings of Ife/Ijesa goldmine, Nigeria was identified by using Proton Induced X-Ray Emission spectrometry as the main analytical tools. A total of 75 samples of the tailings were collected. Correlation, principal component and cluster analyses suggested probable natural and anthropogenic sources of the metals in the tailings. The contamination level of heavy metals was assessed on the basis of geo-accumulation index (), and ecological risk. The analysis of revealed moderately-heavily to heavily extremely contaminated. The value of showed a low level of heavy metals except Cu which shows considerable contamination.

Insights from the Engineering Geological Mapping of Four Basement Rocks Derived Soils

Due to the rapid expansion and associated construction of civil engineering structures on the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) campus, there arose an urgent need for an engineering geological mapping of the underlying soils (residual soils). Generalized geological mapping revealed four types of basement rocks namely migmatite-gneisses, granites, quartzites and charnockites. Results from the fifty (50) soil samples from twenty-five test pits collected all over the spread of the campus coverage of 6.4 km2revealed that the campus is underlain by soils of granular and clayey composition, generally lateritic, having reddish to brownish colour. Engineering geological tests such as natural moisture content, particle size analysis, consistency limits, California bearing ratio and consolidation were carried out on the soils following standard procedures revealed that the values of natural moisture content do not generally follow a consistent pattern and varied from location to location. The grain size characteristics curve, displayed 84% and 16% subsoils are of well graded and poorly graded type respectively. The soils were grouped into CL (low plasticity), CI (medium plasticity) and CH (high plasticity) from consistency limits results. Compaction characteristics of the subsoils revealed 36% and 64% representative of fair to good and poor to very poor foundation materials respectively. Soils with settlement rates greater than 1mm/year were designated as high settlement subsoils. 72% and 28% of the subsoils fell into hard to stiff and soft categories from the shear strength characteristics respectively, and classified as c-ø soils. California Bearing Ratios values range from 10 – 70, indicating their suitability for pavement construction. Conclusively, areas underlain by migmatite-gneiss and charnockite-derived soils, and granite and quartzite-derived soils possessed low and high strength characteristics respectively which can be attributed to their textural characteristics. The subsoils of the entire campus spread are however capable of bearing very substantial loads.

Assessment of Impact of Recreational Resorts on Socio-Economic Growth of Calabar, Cross River State - Nigeria

This study examined the influence of the tourism industry on socio-economic growth of Calabar, Cross River State with special interest on the role of the resorts operating within the study area. Primary and secondary sources of data were employed for the study. The primary source involved the use of questionnaires, interview with participatory research appraisal methods while the secondary sources involved the use of journals, textbooks and records from the management of the various resorts within the area. The study observed that the highest medium of awareness of the existence of the resorts was through family and friends leading to 36% of the entire visitors to the resorts. It was also observed that 89% of the employed workers in the resorts were residents of the study area. The study analysis revealed that the number of employed workers in the resorts varied significantly across the various resorts with F=5.243; P<0.05 and also a significant variation across the class of employment with F=8.383; P<0.05. The study also observed that the resorts provided opportunities for employment, generation of more income and infrastructural enhancement within the area. Based on these findings, it was therefore recommended that government of Cross River State should direct interest in investing in the tourism industry through collaboration with private investors and providing an enabling business environment by the reduction of tax, provision of loan facilities and provision of infrastructures in the study area.

Application of Geospatial Technology for Wetlands’ Mapping and Change-Detection: A Case Study in Selected Areas of South Eastern Coast in Ampara District, Sri Lanka

In global context, the anthropogenic pressure increases the loss of wetland and its resources. Wetlands and estuaries are highly productive and act as critical habitats for a variety of plants, fish, shellfish, and other wildlife (Klemas, 2011). The detection and evaluation of the wetland with modern technology is an important phenomenon to conserve the wetland area and its ecosystem. Remote sensing (RS) has a long history of successful applications within the field of wetland delineation, using a multitude of satellite platforms and sensors (Allan, 2016). This paper is an attempt to object-based approach to derive the change detection inventory information of wetland for selected administrative areas of South Eastern coast in Ampara District within the period of 1991 to 2017 using Toposheets and Google Earth imagery. Further, it also explores the human activities which pressure on wetland including agricultural practices (land encroachment), new settlements, solid waste dumping, land cover changes and etc. Google Earth imagery of 1991 and 2017 were collected and subjected to the GIS analysis to find the result of this study. According to the results, agricultural and built-up area has increased in 1991 by (9.4 per cent), 2017 (16.4 per cent) and 1991 (0.1 per cent), 2017 (2.1 per cent) respectively whereas there has been a decrease in the forest and wetland areas in the years of 1991 (80.3 per cent), 2017 (72.7 per cent) and 1991 (3.5 per cent), 2017 (2.9 per cent) respectively.