Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria
*Corresponding author: Eyankware MO, Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria
Submission: November 19, 2019Published: December 06, 2019
ISSN : 2688-8394 Volume1 Issue4
The study was conducted with the aim of assessing factors that influence groundwater geochemistry within the study area. Twenty-seven (27) groundwater samples were collected for major cations and anions were analysis. From the results obtained, it was observed that pH value fell within the slightly acidic to basic, values obtained from total dissolved solid showed that twenty six (26) groundwater samples fell within fresh water category, while one (1) groundwater sample fell within brackish water category, electrical conductivity ranges from 16.21 to 1136μS/cm. The study revealed that ion exchange and rock weathering are the major geochemical processes that influence groundwater chemistry within the study area. Parson plot revealed that groundwater samples are of different water type; Na-SO4, Na-Cl, Ca-Mg- SO4 and Ca-Mg-Cl water type. Relationship between Na+/Cl¯ versus Ca2+/ (HCO3¯ + SO4 2¯) showed that groundwater was classified under natural state. TDS versus TH plots revealed that groundwater within study area falls within soft-fresh water category, except sample NA-18. Finally, deduction from Soltan classification revealed that sample locations; NA-01, 02, 03, 04, 06, 07, 08, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 27 were classified under deep meteoric water type, while NA-05, 09, 14, 18, 20, 25 and 26 were classified shallow meteoric water type.
Keywords: Ion-Exchange; Weathering; Water type; Lower benue trough and Nigeria