Effect of mining on heavy metal concentration in soils from the vicinity of itakpe iron ore mine in Kogi State,Nigeria

The effects of mining on soils from itakpe iron ore mining area in kogi state,nigeria were studied through the determination of the heavy metals (cd,cu,mg,ni,pb and zn) using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. soil samples were collected during the dry and rainy seasons. significant levels of heavy metals were found. median topsoil concentrations (0-15 cm) for cd,cu,mg,ni,pb and zn were 0.16±0.02,0.15±0.03,0.04±0.03,0.1±0.02,0.07±0.01,0.04±0.04 μg/g,respectively. the heavy metal concentrations of control soil were relatively lower than those in the itakpe mining environment soil and within levels of total metal contamination in the normal soil content intervals and maximum allowable limits of heavy metals in soils. correlations analysis shows that heavy metals were closely correlated with each other except for pb,indicating the studied metals are from the same pollutant resource. this shows,mining as contributing to the metallic levels in the itakpe mining site.