An appraisal of the groundwater potential of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike was carried out by integrating datasets from geology, geographic information system and electrical resistivity survey of the area. The study area is underlain by the Asu River group of Albian age. The Asu River Group in the Southern Benue Trough comprises of Shales, Limestones and Sandstone lenses of the Abakaliki Formation in Abakaliki and Ikwo areas. The shales are generally weathered, fissile, thinly laminated and highly fractured and varies between greyish brown to pinkish red in colour. Twenty (20) Vertical Electrical Sounding data were acquired using SAS 1000 ABEM Terrameter and processed to obtain layer parameters for the study area. A maximum current electrode spacing (AB) of 300 meters was used for data acquisition. Computer aided iterative modelling using IPI2 Win was used to determine layer parameters. In-situ Hydraulic Conductivity measurements at seven parametric locations within the study area were conducted and integrated with Electrical Resistivity measurements to determine aquifer parameters (e.g., Hydraulic conductivity and Transmissivity) in real time. This technique reduces the attendant huge costs associated with pumping tests and timelines required to carry out the technique. Accurate delineation of aquifer parameters and geometries will aid water resource planners and developers on favourable areas to site boreholes in the area. Several correlative cross-sections were generated from the interpreted results and used to assess the groundwater potential of the study area. Results show that the resistivity of the the aquifer ranges from 7.3 Wm–530 Wm while depth to water ranges from 11.4 m to 55.3 m. Aquifer thicknesses range from 8.7 m at VES 5 to 36.3 m at VES 6 locations. Hydraulic conductivity ranges from 1.55 m/day at VES 15.18, and 19 locations to 9.8 m/day at VES 3 and 4 locations respectively. Transmissivity varies from 17.48 m²/day at VES 19 to 98 m²/day at VES 3 locations respectively. Areas with relatively high transmissivities coupled with good aquifer thicknesses should be the target of water resource planners and developers when proposing sites for drilling productive boreholes within Alex Ekwueme federal University Ndufu Alike.

Naturally occurring radionuclides can be categorized into two main groups: primordial and cosmogenic, based on their origin. Primordial radionuclides stem from the Earth’s crust, occurring either individually or as part of decay chains. Conversely, cosmogenic radionuclides originate from extraterrestrial sources such as space, the sun, and nuclear reactions involving cosmic radiation and the Earth’s atmosphere. Gamma-ray spectrometry is a widely employed method in Earth sciences for detecting naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM). Its applications vary from environmental radiation monitoring to mining exploration, with a predominant focus on quantifying the content of uranium (U), thorium (Th), and potassium (K) in rocks and soils. These elements also serve as tracers in non-radioactive processes linked to NORM paragenesis. Furthermore, the heat generated by radioactive decay within rocks plays a pivotal role in deciphering the Earth’s thermal history and interpreting data concerning continental heat flux in geophysical investigations. This paper provides a concise overview of current analytical and measuring techniques, with an emphasis on state-of-the-art mass spectrometric procedures and decay measurements. Earth scientists constantly seek information on the chemical composition of rocks, sediments, minerals, and fluids to comprehend the vast array of geological and geochemical processes. The historical precedence of geochemists in pioneering novel analytical techniques, often preceding their commercial availability, underscores the significance of such advancements. Geochemical analysis has long relied on atomic spectrometric techniques, such as X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRFS), renowned for its precision in analyzing solid materials, particularly major and trace elements in geological samples. XRFS proves invaluable in determining the major constituents of silicate and other rock types. This review elucidates the historical development and methodology of these techniques while showcasing their common applications in various geoscience research endeavors. Ultimately, this review aims to furnish readers with a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental concepts and potential applications of XRF, HPGes, and related technologies in geosciences. Lastly, future research directions and challenges confronting these technologies are briefly discussed.

The Oued Kert watershed in Morocco is essential for local biodiversity and agriculture, yet it faces significant challenges due to meteorological drought. This research addresses an urgent issue by aiming to understand the impacts of drought on vegetation, which is crucial for food security and water resource management. Despite previous studies on drought, there are significant gaps, including a lack of specific analyses on the seasonal effects of drought on vegetation in this under-researched region, as well as insufficient use of appropriate analytical tools to evaluate these relationships. We utilized the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to analyze the relationship between precipitation and vegetation health. Our results reveal a very strong correlation between SPI and NDVI in spring (98%) and summer (97%), while correlations in winter and autumn are weaker (66% and 55%). These findings can guide policymakers in developing appropriate strategies and contribute to crop planning and land management. Furthermore, this study could serve as a foundation for awareness and education initiatives on the sustainable management of water and land resources, thereby enhancing the resilience of local ecosystems in the face of environmental challenges.

The present study aimed to delineate subsurface features and identify prospective metallic mineral deposits in the Adıyaman-Besni area, situated within the Southeastern Anatolian Thrust Belt of Turkey. This region, characterized by ophiolitic mélanges and volcanic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits in its geological framework, possesses significant mineralization potential, encompassing copper, lead, and various other sulfide minerals. Utilizing the combined methodologies of Induced Polarization (IP) and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), a comprehensive electrical mapping of the subsurface structures was conducted, revealing that mineralized zones had low resistivity and high chargeability. The findings indicate that the combined use of IP and ERT techniques yields excellent precision in accurately delineating the features of sulfide mineralization and the peripheries of mineral deposits. This study offers fundamental data for the economic assessment of prospective mineral deposits in the Adıyaman-Besni region and underscores the benefits of IP and ERT techniques in subsurface mapping and mineralization delineation investigations. The mineralized zone has low resistivity (< 50 ohm-m) and strong chargeability (> 30 ms), according to geophysical tests. It also offers a methodological framework for subsequent mineral exploration research in analogous geological formations.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have gained spotlighted attention in the recent past and has experienced exponential advancements. This research focuses on UAV-based data acquisition and processing to generate highly accurate outputs pertaining to orthomosaic imagery, elevation, surface and terrain models. The study addresses the challenges inherent in the generation and analysis of orthomosaic images, particularly the critical need for correction and enhancement to ensure precise application in fields like detailed mapping and continuous monitoring. To achieve superior image quality and precision, the study applies advanced image processing techniques encompassing Fuzzy Logic and edge-detection techniques. The study emphasizes on the necessity of an approach for countering the loss of information while mapping the UAV deliverables. By offering insights into both the challenges and solutions related to orthomosaic image processing, this research lays the groundwork for future applications that promise to further increase the efficiency and effectiveness of UAV-based methods in geomatics, as well as in broader fields such as engineering and environmental management.

Proper understanding of LULC changes is considered an indispensable element for modeling. It is also central for planning and management activities as well as understanding the earth as a system. This study examined LULC changes in the region of the proposed Pwalugu hydropower project using remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS) techniques. Data from the United States Geological Survey's Landsat satellite, specifically the Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM), the Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM), and the Operational Land Imager (OLI), were used. The Landsat 5 thematic mapper (TM) sensor data was processed for the year 1990; the Landsat 7 SLC data was processed for the year 2000; and the 2020 data was collected from Operation Land Image (OLI). Landsat images were extracted based on the years 1990, 2000, and 2020, which were used to develop three land cover maps. The region of the proposed Pwalugu hydropower project was divided into the following five primary LULC classes: settlements and barren lands; croplands; water bodies; grassland; and other areas. Within the three periods (1990–2000, 2000–2020, and 1990–2020), grassland has increased from 9%, 20%, and 40%, respectively. On the other hand, the change in the remaining four (4) classes varied. The findings suggest that population growth, changes in climate, and deforestation during this thirty-year period have been responsible for the variations in the LULC classes. The variations in the LULC changes could have a significant influence on the hydrological processes in the form of evapotranspiration, interception, and infiltration. This study will therefore assist in establishing patterns and will enable Ghana's resource managers to forecast realistic change scenarios that would be helpful for the management of the proposed Pwalugu hydropower project.

The obtaining of new data on the transformation of parent materials into soil and on soil as a set of essential properties is provided on the basis of previously conducted fundamental studies of soils formed on loess-like loams in Belarus (15,000 numerical indicators). The study objects are autochthonous soils of uniform granulometric texture. The basic properties without which soils cannot exist are comprehensively considered. Interpolation of factual materials is given, highlighting the essential properties of soils. Soil formation is analyzed as a natural phenomenon depending on the life activity of biota and the water regime. Models for differentiation of the chemical profile and bioenergy potential of soils are presented. The results of the represented study interpret the available materials taking into account publications on the biology and water regime of soils over the past 50 years into three issues: the difference between soil and soil-like bodies; the soil formation as a natural phenomenon of the mobilization of soil biota from the energy of the sun, the atmosphere, and the destruction of minerals in the parent materials; and the essence of soil as a solid phase and as an ecosystem. The novelty of the article study is determined by the consideration of the priority of microorganisms and water regime in soil formation, chemical-analytical identification of types of water regime, and determination of the water regime as a marker of soil genesis.

The St. Peter Sandstone of the American Midwest is presented today in textbooks as a simple and unproblematic example of “layer-cake geology.” The thesis of this paper is that the very simplicity of St. Peter Sandstone has made it challenging to characterize. In widely separated states, the sandstone appeared under different names. Several theories about how it formed began to circulate. The story of the St. Peter is not only the story of the assemblage of a stratigraphic unit over a vast area during three centuries, but also the role the study of the provenance of this unit played in the development of sedimentology in the early twentieth century, research that was made all the more challenging by its “simple” mineralogy. Indeed, the St. Peter has been controversial since it was first described.