Earth Science

This study assesses the impact of urbanization on the Jakara stream channel - a semi arid area that has received little attention. The proportion of the catchment under impervious cover was determined along the Jakara catchment using black and white air photographs taken in 1961and 1981 satellite imagery of 1987, 1995 and 2006. These were used together with land use maps, road maps and layout plans and ground truthing. Consistent and significant differences in the sites were demonstrated in bankfull width, depth, cross section and wetted perimeter. Channel density increased by 28.6% due to storm sewers, culverts and other runoff removal. About 99 percent of the Jakara channel banks in the urban reach and 30 percent n the semi urban reach are artificially reinforced to prevent channel widening by bank erosion. In addition, residential and commercial landowners filled the channel margins to increase property acreage. Physical channel structure has changed from a pool/riffle sequence to a uniform pattern. Results obtained here show that there are major alterations to the morphology of drainage systems. They need to be taken into account to better understand the hydrologic response of anthropogenic basins, and to improve the modeling, planning and design of sub-urban and urban areas. Finally, a series of advantages of this approach are also discussed.

This paper investigates Curie point depth and heat flow over parts of Bida Basin Nigeria using Aeromagnetic data. The study area is between Latitudes 8.5oN and 9.5oN and Longitudes 5.5oE and 6.5oE being represented by four aeromagnetic maps in 16 overlapping blocks involving towns like; Pateji, Baro, Bida and Agbaje. Depth Estimations were made using Spectral Analysis from which estimates of Curie point depth, geothermal gradient and heat flow were made. Heat flow estimated from spectral inversion revealed seven geothermally active areas with the following values; 60.45mWm-2 (Pategi), 60.91mWm-2 (Baro), 60.99mWm-2 (Baro), 65.87mWm-2 (Bida), 67.67mWm-2 (Agbaje) and 64.00mWm-2 (Agbaje).These areas (Agbaje for instance) are recommended for further geothermal exploration.

The granites of part of Nalgonda district is a metaluminous, high K-calc alkaline,I-type granite emplaced into the gneissic rock of the Peninsular Gneissic Complex of the Eastern Dharwar Craton. The thin section study clearly evidence that the granite is of pure magmatic origin. The deformation signatures were also noticed of brittle-ductile shear both in field and thin section studies in laboratory. Geochemically, the granite is rich in K2O+Na2O, suggesting it is an alkali granite with calc-alkaline magma. On a Yb vs Ta discrimination plot, the granites are falling mostly in the volcanic arc granite field. The REE pattern shows strong Eu negative anomaly, suggesting early separation of plagioclase. The enhance level of LL element relative to HFS element point to the subduction zone enrichment and/or crustal comtamination of the source region.

This paper presents the structural analysis of Afikpo sub-basin using aeromagnetic and Landsat imagery. It was carried out to determine depth to the magnetic basement, delineate the basement morphology and relief, delineate the structural features associated with the basin and to infer the effects of such structures to the general tectonic history and basin geodynamics of the study area. The aeromagnetic and Landsat data were subjected to various image and data enhancement and transformation routines. Results of the study revealed that the dominant structural trend direction of the study area is in the NE-SW direction. Other lineament trend directions are in the N-S and E-W directions. The lineament density map revealed the presence of high density fracture zone around Afikpo and Ezi-Alayi, 8km SW of Afikpo. Results of the 2-D spectral analysis revealed a two layer depth model. The shallower magnetic source (d1) has an average depth of 1.195km while the deeper magnetic source bodies (d2) have an average depth of 2.660km.The shallower magnetic anomalies is as a result of basement rocks which intruded into the sedimentary rocks while, the deeper magnetic anomalies is associated with intra-basement discontinuities like faults. Finally, the average sedimentary thickness of 2.660km estimated in the study area is unfavourable for hydrocarbon generation. The study area is rather favourable for quarrying and Pb/Zn exploration based on the presence of Dolerite Sill which has galena as an associated ore.

This paper investigates the possibility of expansion of Nekede Mechanic-Village gully located in Imo State Nigeria using two Resistivity Survey methods (VES and ARS). The gully site is located on longitude 7o 2’ 6”E and latitude 5o 27’ 46”N. The analysis of the VES measurements showed that VES 3 and 4 are structurally week and susceptible to erosion due to their thick sand layers in their top sections while ARS measurements and analysis showed possibility of fractures and or major cracks in the NE – SW axis rooted to the depth of about 30m.These factors endangers the structural stability of the NE-SW region with reference to the ARS point and adjoining the VES 3 and 4 areas.

Remote sensing data is used for mapping on regional scale and to delineate the structure of various tectonic belts, lineaments and fracture patterns. Lineaments and their intersections and contacts are favourable sites for localization of Kimberlite bodies, which are the main host rocks of Diamonds. The Eastern Dharwar Craton(EDC) is known for its Kimberilte pipes around Wajrakarur, Raichur, Maddur, Narayanpet etc. An IRS LISS-III image covering an area of 1440 sq.km west of Mahabubnagar town, which is located south east of Narayanpet Kimberlite field was processed and interpreted to bring out possible emplacement of Kimberlites. Kimberlite of Narayanpet is associated with ENE-WSW and E-W lineaments. By analyzing structure, geomorphology, drainage patterns derived from satellite imageries, structural zones favourable zones for Kimberlite rocks are demarcated.

This research estimated the Well and Formation parameters of a Niger Delta Oil Well using pressure draw- down data. The well is located at longitude 050 53’ 19” and latitude 040 20’ 24”. The time to end strong wellbore storage effect (t*) was obtained to be 0.0025hrs and the time for the wellbore effect to end completely (50t*) was also determined as 0.125hrs. The wellbore storage constant (CS) value was obtained as 9.3x10-3 rb/psi, while the skin factor (S) was also obtained to be 23.4. The permeability to oil value (K) was obtained to be 954.4md and the Reservoir Pore Volume (Vp) value of 8.45 x 106 res bbl was also obtained.

Geophysical methods widely used in oil and gas exploration. Modeling of gravity data is used extensively to illustrate the geometry and interface between the sediments and bedrock. Which can help the salt dome, anticline folds, dome-shaped uplift of the continental platform and reef masses to be identified. There are various methods to illustrate the bedrock topography, and we will describe one of these methods in present paper. Using the upward continuation, we extract the residual gravity anomaly which in fact shows the local effect of bedrock gravity on the observed gravity. Then, according to the Oldenburg – Parker method, the residual gravity data are inversed and finally the 3D geometry the bedrock is illustrated. It should be noted that some software’s like Surfer and Excel are used in this research but the program main code is written using Matlab programming.

Lack of good research proposal and its presentation is a growing concern in academics researches worldwide. This has been linked to increased poor research writing skills and unavailability of relevant materials including presentation and interpretations of researches. What makes a good research proposal and the basic ideas and steps of the research proposal in scientific investigations were lacking also. The nature, scope and role of research proposal was conceived with the mind to attempt to overcome this non-unique approaches into researches but from different disciplines by providing a-one-stop article for good research proposal writing and presentation. In order to get the above fulfilled, the concept and procedures of good research proposal writing were examined and explained. The basic steps and the importance of research proposal were equally outlined. Good examples were used in illustrations and recommendations were also advanced.

The Electrical Resistivity investigation was carried out around, Kandili Panchayat union, Vellore District, to identified the moderate and deep depth of groundwater potential zone and understand the subsurface geologic layer, the maximum electrode separation 360m by schlumberger configuration. Geologically, denoted metamorphic rock, basement of Precambrian age. The field data obtained have been analyzed using IPI2WIN software, Inverse slope which gives an automatic interpretation of the apparent resistivity data was interpreted. The investigation data from groundwater potential zone divided as priority vies minimum to maximum resistivity value, (I- Kannalapatti 0.010 to 0.805), (II-Koratti0.042 to 1.077), (III-Thokkium 0.054 to 3.651), (IV –Natham 0.045 to 4.124), (V-S.Pallipattu0.195 to 6.108). Key Words: Vertical Electrical Sounding, Groundwater Potential Zone, Kandili Panchayat Union.