The Hydrogeochemistryof the Mayes Water Fall, North Central Nigeria

Abstract

The Mayes waterfall is situated in the south western part of Sha-Kaleri Younger Granite Complex in Nigeria and covers an area that is approximately twenty-four (24) square kilometers. The rock types found in the study area include the migmatite-gneiss and biotite granite. The gabbros occur within the migmatite-gneiss of the Nigerian Basement Complex as boulders of different sizes and along river channels as dykes. The water samples that are genetically related were shown by Stiff diagram, which displayed the same shape while those that displayed different shapes have different sources. The water chemistry of Mayes waterfall and its tributaries which showed Ca + Mg type water as suggested in the piper diagram is controlled by the environment through which the water passed and mostly affected by the chemical weathering of some rock types. The topaz found within the river channels could be responsible for the high concentration of fluoride in some of the samples analysed.