Journal: Pakistan Journal of Geology (PJG)
Author: Khawar Jalil, Dr. Tariq Feroze

This is an open access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

DOI: 10.26480/pjg.02.2025.45.51

Mining is a vital part of Pakistan’s economy, providing essential resources for infrastructure, industry, and exports. However, the sector faces serious challenges such as environmental degradation, lack of regulation, unsafe labor conditions, and minimal community involvement. Responsible mining is no longer just an ideal; it is a necessity for Pakistan’s sustainable future. This paper aims to explore how the country can adopt better mining practices by enforcing environmental safeguards, improving governance, ensuring worker safety, and engaging local communities. By examining global best practices and real-world case studies, this research attempts to highlight practical solutions that Pakistan can implement to transform its mining sector. With growing pressure from environmental activists, policymakers, and international markets, the shift toward responsible mining is inevitable. If Pakistan embraces sustainable mining techniques, invests in cleaner technologies, and holds corporations accountable, the industry can become a driver of long-term economic growth without compromising the health of people or the planet.

Journal: Pakistan Journal of Geology (PJG)
Author: K. I. Adebayo, O. E. Faseki, A. S. Oji, M. A. Saliu, and O. A. Ademeso

This is an open access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

DOI: 10.26480/pjg.02.2025.41.44

Los Angeles (LA) abrasion test is the best known and most widely applied method used to measure abrasion resistance. However, its preparation phase and execution are expensive and time consuming compared to other mechanical aggregate tests. As such, establishing empirical equations to predict LA abrasion from physical and mechanical methods that are simpler and cheaper to execute provides both time and money savings and is useful for forecasting purposes in preliminary studies. This study aims at obtaining empirical relationships between the LA abrasion and other practical aggregate properties such as aggregate impact value (AIV), aggregate crushing value (ACV), unconfined compressive strength (UCS), specific gravity of the calcareous sandstones collected from four different locations in parts of southeastern Nigeria. The rocks’ ACVs and AIVs ranged from 16.34 to 26.29 % and 15.87 to 22.52 % respectively, while the LAAVs varied from 38.62 to 53.1 %. The slake durability index is within the range of 91.1 to 96.7 % and the strength values of the studied rocks fall between 20 to 41 MPa. The correlation plots show that LA abrasion resistance had a very strong linear positive relationship of R2 = 0.98, 0.74 with the ACV, AIV; a moderate positive relationship (R2 = 0.49, 0.50) with porosity, water absorption and an inverse relationship with the UCS (R2 = 0.77), slake durability (R2 = 0.43), dry density (R2 = 0.69) and specific gravity values (R2 = 0.55). Furthermore, the highest correlation coefficient was obtained from the ACV while slake durability recorded the weakest correlation with LA abrasion values. In conclusion, the study suggests that ACV, AIV and UCS tests are the best empirical methods for estimating the LA abrasion value.

Journal: Pakistan Journal of Geology (PJG)
Author: Arshad Ashraf, Naveed Mustafa

This is an open access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

DOI: 10.26480/pjg.01.2025.34.40

Mountain regions are highly vulnerable in the context of soaring water demands owing to rapid urbanization, improved living standards, and climate change, which need immediate attention for sustainable development. The current study evaluated spring concentration in various agro-environments of Pakistan to ensure water security and sustainable development in the country. A total of 0.02 million springs were found throughout various physiographic regions of the country, with roughly 33.5% of them located in the low mountains and 21.8% in the middle mountains. The spring densities were observed to be high in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (i.e., 0.08 springs/km²) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (i.e., 0.04 springs/km²), which may be attributed to substantial rainfall recharge and the presence of fractured rock formations here. The gravelly fans and terraces stretching over 9% of the country area contain about 12% springs with a density of over 0.02 springs/km². The spring density was observed high in the forest class, i.e., 0.08 springs/km², and the rangelands, i.e., about 0.04 springs/km², pointing towards the significance of vegetation cover in sustaining the spring ecosystem. The density of springs was maximum about 0.07 springs/km² in the >1000 mm rainfall zone, while it ranged within 0.01-0.02 springs/km² in other rainfall zones. The spring density exhibited an exponential relationship with the annual rainfall, indicated by an R² value of 0.76, underscoring the importance of rainfall in the formation and maintenance of springs in the region. Spring management requires multifaceted actions focusing both on supply and demand-side solutions, improving groundwater recharge and governance, and efficient water use in the country.

Journal: Pakistan Journal of Geology (PJG)
Author: Taiwo, Tolu A, Olusina, J.O., Hamid-Mosaku, A.I., Abiodun, O.E

This is an open access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

DOI: 10.26480/pjg.01.2025.26.33

Several studies have applied various techniques to model and predict water consumption in urban areas where there is water distribution network (WDN). This study examines the performance of machine learning models for predicting volume of water consumed by urban poor households where there is no WDN. Historical data of daily volume of water consumed was gathered through questionnaires, and integrated with socioeconomic data, weather data, property data and geospatial data. The datasets were passed through Pearson Correlation algorithm to select few features that correlate with the target variable. The selected features were inputted into four predictive models – Multilinear Regression (MLR), Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Regression (SVR), and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). Three error metrics, Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) and R squared (R2) score, were used to measure the model performances. The models were validated with dataset collected where there is WDN. All four models performed very well during training, as they produced RMSE of 110 litres, 83 litres, 98 litres and 97 litres respectively, and R2 score of 53%, 73%, 52% and 63% respectively. Significance test carried out on the results at 95% confidence level shows that there is no significant difference between model performance where there is WDN and where there is no WDN, which also confirms the validity of the dataset collected where there is no WDN.

Journal: Pakistan Journal of Geology (PJG)
Author: Didei Innocent Sunday and Oki A. Austin

This is an open access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

DOI: 10.26480/pjg.01.2025.20.25

Provenance study of an outcropping unit of the Owelli Sandstone in Anambra basin, Southern Nigeria was carried out. The outcrop was mapped and logged, A total of four unconsolidated samples were collected from the formation that were impregnated with blue epoxy resin before cutting. Each of the samples were prepared following the techniques employed in thin section analysis. Point counting techniques was employed to quantify the various mineral grains. 200 points were counted for each slide that was viewed under the petrographic microscope. The heavy mineral assemblages which includes garnet, epitode and staurolite suggested medium-grade metamorphic source rock whereas tourmaline, rutile and zircon indicates recycled sedimentary source, igneous and metamorphic source rock. More so, the Owelli sandstone is said to be mature. This deduction arises from the average value obtained from ZTR index data which is in the average range of 67%. The study therefore, indicates that the Owelli sandstone are derived from recycled sedimentary rocks that comes from the Abakaliki uplift in the Benue Trough and the metamorphic and plutonic rocks of the Oban Massif Basement Complex.

Journal: Pakistan Journal of Geology (PJG)
Author: Shuaibu A.M, Shehu S Abdulmalik, Okiyi I.M

This is an open access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

DOI: 10.26480/pjg.01.2025.12.19

Thirty-five (35) vertical electrical soundings (VES) were conducted to assess the groundwater potential of Mashiji and its surroundings using the Schlumberger configuration with a maximum current electrode of 100 m and an Ohmega resistivity meter. The data were analyzed using IPI 2win software. The research region is dominated by the HK curve type (20%), followed by the H, HA, and A curve types (60%), and KH, KA, AK, and KA curve types (20%). Groundwater potential aquifer production zones were identified using geoelectric techniques. Weathered and fractured layers make up the majority of the aquifer zones in the research region. The granitic environment of the study area is separated into four subsurface strata, according to the geoelectric sections: top soil, clayey laterite, weathered basement, fractured basement, and, occasionally, fresh basement. These horizons have thicknesses ranging from 0.48 to 1.61 m, 1.55 to 13.7 m, 2.75 to 35.7 m, 12.2 to 75.3 m, and 17.8 to ->7 m, in that order. In a metasediment environment, geoelectric sections revealed that the area is made up of four geoelectric layers: top soil, clayey lateritic soil, quartzite/schist, weathered basement, and, in some cases, fresh basement. The thicknesses of these horizons are 0.40 – 1.34m, 1.7 – 8m, 3.63 – 28m, 4,374 – 34.9m, 4.9 – 59.4m, and 25.2 – 60m. The fractured/overburden geospatial maps of the study area indicated diverse groundwater potentials depending on geological conditions. The weathered and fractured thicknesses in the granite environment range from 2.75 to 35.7 m and 12.2 to 75.3 m, respectively, while in the metasediment environment, the weathered basement thickness is 4.374 to 34.9 m, and the fractured layer thickness varies from 4.9 to 59.4 m.

Journal: Pakistan Journal of Geology (PJG)
Author: Ayodele O. Falade, Olubola Abiola, John O. Amigun

This is an open access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

DOI: 10.26480/pjg.01.2025.05.11

This study integrated amplitude and frequency-based post-stacked seismic attributes to delineate hydrocarbon prospects in the study area. The research aimed to achieve a comprehensive reservoir characterization by utilizing five well log suites, check shot, and seismic data. Two primary lithologies, sand and shale, were delineated from the well log data, and three reservoirs of significant thickness, intersecting the available well logs, were identified. Using synthetic seismograms and check shot data, a seismic-to-well tie was performed, aligning the well logs with the seismic section to facilitate the extraction of horizon time slices corresponding to the tops of the identified reservoirs for seismic attribute analysis. Seismic attributes that are a function of the amplitude (instantaneous amplitude), frequency (instantaneous frequency) and both (amplitude envelope) identified to be a direct hydrocarbon indicator were extracted and used for the analysis to obtain information about the hydrocarbon potential of the field. Horizon time slices for the three reservoirs were generated across all three attribute maps, allowing for the identification of zones indicative of hydrocarbon presence. Areas characterized by high instantaneous amplitude, low instantaneous frequency, and high amplitude envelope were highlighted and encircled as hydrocarbon prospects. The results reveal that the field demonstrates significant hydrocarbon potential based solely on amplitude and frequency-based seismic attributes.

Journal: Pakistan Journal of Geology (PJG)
Author: Mudashiru Soliu Ademola, Olatunji Anuoluwa Olamide., Oke Paul Adetayo., Adeyanju Olumide Lateef., Orowale Triumph Prosper

This is an open access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

DOI: 10.26480/pjg.01.2024.80.88

A detailed geophysical investigation has been undertaken to evaluate the subsurface/subsoil competence of a proposed building site in Federal University of Technology, Akure. The study utilized electrical method involving the use of horizontal profiling, vertical electrical sounding and the combined vertical electrical sounding and horizontal profiling at the site of investigation. Four traverses were occupied in order to have a detailed understanding of the area. Twenty (20) Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) locations were occupied using Schlumberger electrode configuration with AB/2 varying from 1 to 100 m. This was quantitatively interpreted using manual partial curve matching and computer iteration. The results were used to generate geoelectric sections and maps. Three to five subsurface geologic layers were delineated across the study area comprising; the topsoil, clay, weathered layer, laterite and fresh bedrock. The topsoil exhibits fairly high resistivity with resistivity ranging from 31 to 451 Ωm with thickness in excess of 1.5 m. Based on this, the upper layer can host the foundation of less heavy weight buildings using strip foundation. However, the top layer is underlain by the weathered layer which is predominantly composed of a sandy clay formation, with resistivity values ranging from 85 to 190 Ωm and thickness between 0.5 and 12 m. The last layer, with resistivity values ranging from 383 to 2491 Ωm, is considered to be the competent layer capable of supporting heavy engineering structures with deeper foundations.

Journal: Pakistan Journal of Geology (PJG)
Author: Haidar Salim Anan*

This is an open access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

DOI: 10.26480/pjg.01.2025.01.04

Spatio-temporal variability of thirty-one Maastrichtian-Neogene Uvigerinid benthic foraminiferal species and other related taxa in seventeen localities in the Southern Tethys (Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, Venezuela, Ivory Basin, Nigeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Qatar, Iran, Pakistan, Japan, Australia, southwest Pacific) are presented. Two of these species are treated here as new: Uvigerina tusmanica and Uvigerinella tunisica. The prominent environment of the recorded assemblage are ranged from the Outer shelf-bathyal environment.

Journal: Pakistan Journal of Geology (PJG)
Author: Haidar Salim Anan

This is an open access journal distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

DOI: 10.26480/pjg.02.2024.149.150

Eocene-Miocene Lagenid new genus Amphicorynella and its species of Romania (East Europe) and France (West Europe) are described. It is characterized by its elongate calcareous perforate uniserial test, globular proloculus with commonly apiculate base, followed by inclined globular chambers throughout, sutures distinctly depressed, surface ornamented with fine costae broken up into rows of small pustules, aperture terminal with a pronounced neck with ring like concentric ridges. These species are: Amphicorynella popescui, A. romanica, A. mazeni, A. yassini, A. franciaca, Amphicoryna sztrákosae. All the recorded benthic foraminiferal species from the Romania and France in Europe are, so far, an endemic to its original erections.