Mineralogy and Trace Element Composition of Termite Mound Soil from Selected Communities in Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

Termite mounds are biogenic structures that modify soil properties through the selective excavation, transportation and redistribution of soil materials, making them useful indicators of mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of their environments. This study investigated the mineralogical composition, major-element geochemistry, trace-element distribution and weathering characteristics of termite mound soils from seven communities in Delta State, Nigeria. Termite mound soil samples were collected from Warri, Agbor, Ogbehasi, Abraka and Oleh, prepared and analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) techniques. The major-element composition was dominated by SiO₂, Fe₂O₃ and TiO₂, with concentrations ranging from 32.20–58.34%, 13.52–37.44% and 1.23–3.56%, respectively, whereas Al₂O₃, CaO, K₂O, Na₂O, MnO and P₂O₅ generally occurred at concentrations below 1%. XRD analysis identified quartz, montmorillonite, kaolinite, orthoclase and albite as the principal mineral phases. Provenance discrimination indicated predominantly igneous source contributions with evidence of both mafic and felsic components, while the weathering relationships suggested variable chemical alteration characterized by clay-mineral formation, silica retention and relative iron enrichment. Trace-element distributions also varied spatially among the sampling locations, reflecting differences in geological background, mineralogical composition, weathering intensity and termite-mediated redistribution of soil materials. The findings demonstrate that termite mound soils preserve useful mineralogical and geochemical signatures of their surrounding environments and can serve as complementary materials for geological and geochemical assessment in Delta State, Nigeria.