pjg.02.2025.68.73
ABSTRACT
INHERENT GEOELECTRIC CHARACTERIZATION FOR TOPSOIL INTEGRITY ANALYSIS IN LOKOJA USING GEOPHYSICAL VES METHOD
Journal: Pakistan Journal of Geology (PJG)
Author: Kuma Joshua Ayua, John Mkohol Uzer, Hadiza El-Nur Dongel
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.02.2025.68.73
This study examines the geoelectric characteristics of topsoil in Lokoja, Nigeria, using Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) to assess soil competence for engineering structures. Resistivity sounding conducted in the study area identified three main curve types: three-layer (A and K type), four-layer (HA, QH and KH), and five-layer (HAK, HKH and QHA). The top layer resistivity within the study area ranges from 11.7 to 2702.7 ohm-m with thickness ranging from 0.15 to 3.85 m. The depth to basement in the study area ranges from 0.6 m to 49.1m with a mean depth of 15.1 m. The analysis classifies the study area into four competency zones based on resistivity values: incompetent (<100 ohm-m), moderately competent (101–350 ohm-m), competent (351–750 ohm-m), and highly competent (>750 ohm-m). The results indicate that the eastern and northeastern regions, which are dominated by clay, have lower resistivity and present geotechnical difficulties such as differential settlement and soil deformation, while the central and western regions, which are underlain by lateritic and sandy formations, have higher resistivity and are appropriate for construction. Areas with thin overburden and shallow basement rock are further identified by depth-to-bedrock data, which correlates with reduced soil competence. The study provides useful suggestions for reducing geotechnical risks and improving infrastructure resilience in Lokoja, while highlighting the significance of geophysical techniques in urban planning and foundation design.
Pages | 68-73 |
Year | 2025 |
Issue | 2 |
Volume | 9 |