International Science Community Association Research Journal of Chemical Sciences 2231 - 606X 1 2 2011 May 18 A Study of the Distribution pattern of Heavy metals in surface soils around Arufu Pb-Zn mine, Northeastern Nigeria, Using Factor Analysis 70 80 EN Manocha N. 1 Swami Vivekanand college of Pharmacy, Indore, INDIA Chandra S.K. 2 Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, INDIA Sharma V. 3 B.M College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Indore, INDIA Sangameswaran B. 4 Saluja M. 5 Sathyaraj A. 1 Swami Vivekanand college of Pharmacy, Indore, INDIA Satyanarayana V. 2 Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, INDIA Rao M.V.Basaveswara 3 B.M College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Indore, INDIA Pruthviraj R.D. 1 Dept. of Chemistry, Amruta Institute of Eng. and Mangt. Sci., Bidadi, Bangalore, INDIA Rao G.V. 1 CavinKare Research Centre, 12, Poonamalle Road, Ekkattuthangal, Chennai-600 032, INDIA Annamalai T. 2 Mukhopadhyay T. 3 Madhavi S 4 Machavolu Lakshmi 5 Mbabazi Jolocam 1 Department of Chemistry, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, UGANDA Ntale M. 2 Department of Chemistry, Kyambogo University, P.O. Box 1, Kyambogo, UGANDA Kwetegyeka J. 3 Department of Chemistry, Gulu University, P.O. Box 166, Gulu, UGANDA Mulongo G. 4 Twinomuhwezi H 5 Nnamuyomba P. 6 Benarjiand K.V. PatruduT. 1 Dept. of Chemistry, College of Eng., GITAM University, Hyderabad campus, Visakhapatnam, INDIA SangerS. H. 1 Dept. of Elec. and other Energy Sources, College of Agri. Eng. and Tech. DBSKKV, INDIA Mohod A.G. 2 Y.P. Khandetode 3 H.Y. Shrirame 4 Deshmukh A.S. 5 hivaraju P.H 1 Dept. of Environmental Science, Yuvaraja Collage, University of Mysore, Mysore, INDIA Olarinoye I.O. 1 Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Minna, NIGERIA Iorfa AdamuChristopher 1 Department of Geology, University of Calabar. P.M.B 1115, Calabar,NIGERIA Ntonzi NganjeTherese 2 Dept. of Chemistry, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurum, Delta State, NIGERIA Ukwang E.E. 3 Department of Chemistry, Cross River State University of Technology, NIGERIA Abara IBE Keneth 4 Peter Neji 5 > Research Paper 2011 4 07 2011 May 18 Surface soil samples at depth of 0-15cm were collected from the Arufu Pb-Zn mining district within the Middle Benue Trough for this study. The aim was to determine the levels and spatial variability of heavy metals in the surface soil as well as the factors controlling the overall pattern of surface soil variability in the mining district. The soil samples were digested with 4M HNO and analysed for Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Pb, Cr, Cd, As and Ag using tomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) model 210. Organic matter content (OM) and pH of the soil samples were also determined. The resulting data was subjected to both descriptive and factor analyses. Results showed elevated levels of trace metals (Pb, Zn and Cd) and erratic distribution of trace metals in the surface soil. The factor analysis in R-mode was used to integrate the geochemical data. Factor 1 revealed the significant lithologic controls through oxidation of bedrock and sulphide minerals, as well as environmental controls through weathering and decomposition of organic matter. Factor 2 revealed anthropogenic controls through mining activities. Factor 3 revealed control by deposition under alkaline condition. Eingenvalues that accounted for about 70.56% of the total variance were also obtained. Clastic decomposition was identified to be more effective on the alkaline soil developed on carbonate host rocks. Lateral dispersion trains of heavy metals are limited to mine adits. These findings could play a key role to effective management of surface soil quality in the study area. Copyright@ International Science Community Association