Continental J.

Applied Sciences 5:8 - 14, 2010

©Wilolud Journals, 2010.

HYDROGEOLOGICAL AND GEOTECHNICAL ASSESSMENT OF SELECTED GULLY SITES IN GOMBI

AREA, NORTHEASTERN NIGERIA.

Yunis B. Valdon, Gabriel Ike Obiefuna and Emmanuel Ayegba

Department of Geology, Federal University of Technology Yola, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT
An assessment of the hydrogeological and geotechnical properties as agents in the formation
and expansion of gullies in Gombi area is presented. Field geological study of the area
revealed that it is underlain by basement complex rocks. The soils are products of in-situ
weathering of the underlain basement complex rocks. Results of sieves analysis show that the
soils at the gully sites have sorting values ranging between 0.42 and 2.3, coefficient of
uniformity values ranging between 3.0 and 10, and the coefficient of curvature values ranging
between 0.2 and 1.3. These indicate that the soils are poorly to well sorted in places. The
plasticity indices values ranging between 11.0 and 29 with mean value of about 20 indicate
soils of moderate to high plasticity, slight dry strength and easily friable. Values of maximum
dry density ranges between 1.83g/cm3 and 2.09g/cm3 at optimum moisture contents of between
7.4% and 11.3% reveals that the soils were generally loose. The hydraulic conductivity and
transmissivity values as determined from statistical grain size method range between 3.8 ×10-
4cm/s to 6.4 × 102cm/s and 3.8 ×10-2cm2/s to 9.6 ×104cm2 respectively. These indicate
moderate seepage fluxes and adverse pore pressures and are thus easily erodible. From the
geotechnical analysis results, recommendations for erosion control such as aforestration,
construction of drainages and concrete rip-raps were suggested.

KEYWORDS; Hydrogeological, geotechnical, transmissivity, plasticity, Gombi area, Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION
The study area is located in a high relief area with a maximum elevation of about 740m. As a result, run-off is
relatively high and infiltration rate is low. Groundwater storage has also been limited due to adverse climatic
conditions. Soil erosion has become prominent phenomenon and is ravaging the landscape of the study area.

Earlier studies have attributed their genesis and growth to the influence of human activities on geomorphological
processes and qualitative and semi-quantitative methods were employed to produce suggestions for solving the
problems (Grove 1951). However investigations carried out by Egboka and Nwankwo (1985) and Obiefuna et al.,
(1999) have shown that the primary causes of gully genesis and growth lie in the hydrogeological and geotechnical
properties of complex aquifer systems. The high hydrostatic pressure in the aquifers produce a reduction in the
effective strength of the unconsolidated coarse sands in the walls of gullies leading to intense erosion (Egboka and
Okpoko 1984 and Obiefuna and Nur 2003).

The development of gullies has caused extensive damage to the environment and has driven many away from their
homes and farmlands.

Recently, precisely in June this year the chairman of the local Government was on the state television soliciting for
the state governments’ intervention to curb the menace of gully erosion. These exigencies prompted this
hydrogeological and geotechnical assessment of the area to proffer solutions to the devastating effects of gullies to
agricultural, infrastructural and socio-economic lives of the people in the area.

STUDY AREA
The study area falls within latitudes 10°7’’N and 10°13’’N and longitudes 12°42’’Eand 12°47’’E. (Figure 1). It is
easily accessible by the Song-Gombi-Biu and Gombi-Hong link roads. There are numerous footpaths and tracks that
provide access to the villages in the study area.

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 Yunis B. Valdon et al.,: Continental J. Applied Sciences 5:8 - 14, 2010

It is drained by the Mayo Njoda stream which flows via west and Mayo Zangula stream from the northeast portion.
They are all seasonal streams originating from the hills in the study area.

The prevalent vegetation is the guinea savanna with two distinct seasons: the dry season which last from November
to March; and a wet season which last from April to October (AADP) 1990-2007. The mean annual rainfall is about
1000mm most of which falls between the months of June to September (Table 1).

Previous works on the area are generally on a regional scale which includes the works of Falconer (1911), Carter
et.al., (1963), Cratchley and Jones (1965), Dupreeze and Barber (1965) and Kiser (1968). These workers gave
details on the geology, geological structure, hydrogeology and water quality of old northeastern Nigeria. Subsequent
surface and groundwater quality assessment was carried out by Agbo (1992). Magnetic anomaly and structure of the
Precambrian massif of the northern Nigeria was carried out by Bassey and Dada (2000).

The objective of this study is to assess the results of geological and geotechnical analysis obtained from field
measurements and soil test to infer the formation and expansion of gullies in the area.

GEOLOGY OF THE STUDY AREA

Rocks of the crystalline Precambrian Basement complex of Nigeria underlie the study area. The major lithologic
units are: the granite-gneiss, the granites and the undifferentiated migmatite (Figure 2). In most parts of the area, the
unconsolidated weathered overburden material consisting of laterites, sands overlies these rocks. However outcrops
of the botite granites, granites and migmatites occur in some locations such as Kpawa, Otanglang, Kperande, Balde,
Gombi range and Fachi areas. These rocks has been largely fractured due to tectonism giving rise to fissures, joints
and fractured zones which according to Oyawoye (1970) largely trends towards the NE-SW and N-S zones.

The migmatites which are poorly exposed along the Gombi range are coarse grained, granitic in composition and
interlaminated with metamorphic rocks of various kinds forming the so called migmatite-gneiss complexes.

The granite-gneiss are light to dark coloured, medium to coarse grained with poorly developed leucocratic layers.
They contain feldspars, boitite and phenocrysts of quartz and are found mainly in Kpawa and Utanglang areas. The
feldspathic granites covering almost half of the study area are light coloured and medium-coarse grained in texture.
They consist essentially of feldspars, quartz biotite and eccessory garnet minerals are found in Kpawa, Kpenende,
Gombi range, Balda and Fachi areas.

The rock units have been subjected to tectonism giving rise to fractures, veins, fissure, faults, joints and fractured
zones. In some cases the the veins are filrd with remobilized minerals such as quartz and feldspars called the
quartzo-feldspathic veins.

Faults and joints are observerd around Kpawa, Gombi range,Balda, Kparande and Fachi areas. Field evide(nce
include wide zones of mylonites, slickensides, displacement of lithologies and marker horizons. Foliations are also
observed prominently over the granitic outcrops along Gombi range and Balde ares along side mylonites.

HYDROGEOLOGY OF THE STUDY AREA

The meteorological data from the Adamawa Agricultural Development Agency Yola shown on Table 1 include the
rainfall data for the study area. The average annual precipitation occurring almost entirely as rainfall over a fifteen
water year period (April to March) amounted to 95,971,200m3 volume of water. The value of actual
evapotranspiration estimated from Turc model based on the mean annual rainfall is about 74,857,536m3 or 78% of
the atmospheric precipitation (Obiefuna and Nur, 2003). An estimate of the surface runoff of 13435968m3 or 14% of
the atmospheric was achieved employing the Veisman (1972) rational formular. Thus based on Bell (1983) the
infiltration was estimated by subtracting the sum of of actual evapotranspiration and the surface runoff from the total
precipitation. Accordingly when this is done for the study area an average infiltration value of 7677696m3 was
obtained. Potential sources of surface water supply are rivers Mayo-Njoda and Mayo Zangula which are largely
seasonal as well as Dam 1 and 2 located to the north and east of the study area (Figure 2). They have their peak

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 Yunis B. Valdon et al.,: Continental J. Applied Sciences 5:8 - 14, 2010

discharges between the months of August and September and the minimum discharges in the months of April and
May.

There are two main aquifers units that underlie the study area. These are the unconsolidated weathered overburden
aquifer and the fractured basement aquifer (Obiefuna and Nur, 2003). The unconsolidated weathered overburden
aquifer is derived from the weathering of the underlying basement rocks and consists of residual soils such as
gravels, sands, silts and clays. The fractured basement aquifer directly underlies the unconsolidated weathered
overburden aquifer and consists of rocks that have been subjected to fracturing due to tectonism. Furthermore while
the hand-dug wells are tapping the unconsolidated weathered overburden aquifer, the boreholes are tapping the
fractured basement aquifer unit.

The hydraulic properties as determined from statistical methods (Hazen, 1893; Harleman et.al., 1963 and Uma et.al.,
1989) indicate a mean hydraulic conductivity K, value of 2.09m/s and a mean transmissivity,T, value of 3.79m2/s.
Comparisons were made for K to the Todd (1995) and T to the Gheorghe (1978) classification and were found to be
relatively high.

GEOTECHNICAL PROPERTIES OF THE WEATHERED BASEMENT

Incipient gullies were observed in different parts of Gombi and environs, which are underlain by the basement
complex rocks. The menace of devastation was found at Gombi 1 Primary school, New market area, Walawal,
Fachi, Gada Maisaje, Sabongari, Mbilla. The basement complex rocks of the area have undergone considerable
weathering leading to about 5-8meters thick unconsolidated weathered overburden layer consisting of loose sands,
gravels, silts and clays.

The range of the depth of incision of the gullies observed is about 1.0m to 2.3m with width ranging from 1.5m to
4.0m (Table 3). The geotechnics of these areas determine the susceptibility to gully erosion or their erodibility. To
determine the causes and to suggest solutions to the problems, the geotechnical parameters or characteristics of the
soils at the seven locations using soil mechanic laboratory test such as liquid limit and plastic limit, the grain size
analysis, moisture content, specific gravity and shear strength test were carried out. Table 4 summarizes the results
of the test conducted. The liquid limit and plastic limits were used to obtain the plasticity index, which is a measure
of the plasticity of the soil. The values obtained ranged from 11.0to 29.0 indicating medium to slightly high
plasticity according to Anon (1979). The samples are soft and could be crushed by fingers and hence erodible.
Compaction test indicates that the optimum moisture content (OMC) ranges from 7.4% to 11.3% whereas the
maximum dry density (MDD) ranges from 1.83g/cm3 to 2.09g/cm3 indicating that the soils are slightly compact and
not loosed.

The grain size distributions analysis indicate sorting values to range from 0.42 to 2.3 and coefficient of uniformity
and coefficient of curvature values of 3.0 to 10 and 0.2 to 1.3 respectively indicating that the soils are poorly to well
sorted implying low content of the fine grained materials such as clays and silts that provide cohesion.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Hydrogeological and geotechnical investigations of the weathered basement rocks of Gombi area were made for the
purpose of inferring the surface and subsurface processes that contribute to the formation of gullies in the area. A
mean hydraulic conductivity K and a mean transmissivity T values of 2.09m/s and 3.79m2/s recorded indicate an
aquifer unit of relatively high performance. The result of the geotechnical investigation indicate sorting values
ranging from 0.42 to 2.3 and coefficient of uniformity and coefficient of curvature values of 3 to 10 and .2 to 1.3
respectively. Thus the soil is largely well sorted with low content of fine grain material such as silt and clays that
provide cohesion. These hence made the soil loose and susceptible to gully erosion. The above result have shown
that control of gullies in the area requires an integrated approach involving agronomic practices or massive
aforestation efforts aimed at protecting the soil from direct impact of rain drops as a first step. The second step
requires some engineering methods which can modify the slope characteristics in an attempt to check the amount
and velocity of runoff (Obiefuna and Nur, 2003). Finally, draining the soil using appropriate methods will help the
shear strength and reduce the susceptibility of the soil to erosion.

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REFERENCES
Agbo, A.H., 1992: Surface and Groundwater quality assessment of Gombi area. Unpublished B.Tech Thesis.
Federal University of Technology, Yola.

Anon, O.H., 1979: Classification of rocks and soils for engineering geological mapping part 1. Rock and soil
materials, bulletin Intern. Engineering Geology, No. 19:364-371.

Bassey, N.E. and Dada, S.S., 2000: Magnetic anomalies and structure of Hawal Precambrian massif, N.E. Nigeria.
Nigeria Mineral Geosciences Book of Abstract pp30.

Bell, F.G., 1983: Fundamentals of Engineering Geology, Butterworth Publishers London, p488-524.

Carter, J.D., Barber, W., Tait, E.A. and Jones, G.P., 1963: The geology of parts of Adamawa, Bauchi and Borno
provinces Northeastern Nigeria, Geological Survey of Nigeria bulletin 30:35-53.

Cratchley, C.R. and Jones J.P., 1965: An interpretation of the Geology and gravity anomalies of the Benue valley,
Nigeria. Geological Survey London No.1.

Dupreeze, J.W and Barber, W., 1965: The distribution of chemical quality of groundwater in northern Nigeria,
Geological Survey of Nigeria Bulletin 36, pp19-33.

Egboka, B.C.E and Nwankwo, G.I. 1985: The hydrogeological and geotechnical parameters as agents for the
expansion of Agulu-Nanka gully Anambra State, Nigeria. Journal of African Earth Science vol 3 (4): 417-425

Egboka, B.C.E and Okpoko, E.I. 1984: Gully erosion in the Agulu-Nanka region of Anambra State, Nigeria.
Challenges in African Hydrology and Water Resources (Proceedings of the Harare Symposium, July 1984) IAHS
Publ. no 144.

Falconer, J.D., 1911: The geology and geography of northern Nigeria. Macmillan London, pp 236.

Gheorghe, A., 1978: Processing and synthesis of Hydrogeological data, Abacus Press, Turn Bridge

Grove, A. T 1951: Soil erosion and population problems in Southeast, Nigeria. Geog. Jour. 117:297-306

Harleman, D.R.E., Mehborne, P.E. and Rumar, R.A., 1963: Dispersion, permeability, correlation In porous media
Journal of Hydraulic Division, American Society of Civil Engineers, 89:67-83.

Hazen, A., 1893: Some physical properties of sand and gravels. Mass state Board of Health, 24th Annual Report

Kiser, R.T., 1968: Chemical quality of water in Northern Nigeria. Geological Survey of Nigeria Open File Report.

Obiefuna, G. I, Nur, A, Baba, A.U and Bassey, N.E., 1999 Geological and geotechnical assessment of selected gully
sites Yola Area Northeast, Nigeria. Environmental hydrology Journal vol 7 (6):1-13
http://hydroweb.com/jeh1999/obiefuna.pdf

Obiefuna, G.I. and Nur, A., 2003: Hydrogeological and geotechnical study of Bauchi and environs, Northeast
Nigeria. Global Journal of Geological Sciences vol 2(1):187-198.

Oyawoye, M.O., 1970: The basement complex of Nigeria, In African Geology Whiteman, A.J. and Dessauvagie,
T.F. (Ed.) University Press Ibadan. P 91-97.

Todd, D.K., 1995: Groundwater Hydrology. J Wiley and Sons, New York.

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Turc, L., 1954: Methods of measuring Evapotranspiration Mc Graw-Hill Book Company Inc. New York.

Uma, K.O; Egboka, B.C.E and Onuoha, K.M.1989: New statistical grain-size method of evaluating the hydraulic
conductivity of sandy aquifers of Ajalli Sandstone Formation. Journal of Hydrology 108:343-366

Veisman, W.T., 1972: Introduction to hydrology. McMillan Pub. London.

Received for Publication: 04/05/10

Accepted for Publication: 20/05/10

Corresponding author
Gabriel Ike Obiefuna
Department of Geology, Federal University of Technology Yola, Nigeria.

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Table 1: METEOROLOGICAL DATA FOR GOMBI AND ENVIRONS MONTHLY RAINFALL (mm) FROM 1990/1991-2004/2005 WATER YEAR
Year April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Total
1990/91 17.60 118.40 67.80 157.80 97.00 103.73 60.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 622.30
1991/92 13.20 82.10 96.90 148.80 295.10 28.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 664.10
1992/93 44.80 61.10 115.00 147.90 359.20 255.80 31.60 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 1015.40
1993/94 78.80 102.90 131.80 347.30 293.80 210.60 70.50 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 1231.70
1994/95 108.90 54.50 147.90 179.70 302.30 322.30 121.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 1236.60
1995/96 21.00 77.20 173.70 151.80 210.48 166.05 99.02 99.02 00.00 00.00 00.00 10.00 1008.27
1996/97 8.00 86.40 139.40 230.40 231.00 122.01 51.90 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 1869.11
1997/98 114.20 105.40 120.82 313.80 290.10 296.60 83.80 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 1324.72
1998/99 32.10 37.00 157.10 189.80 293.70 281.60 79.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 1069.30
1999/00 - 125.50 70.20 166.20 331.40 211.90 84.90 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 990.10
2000/01 7.20 57.40 229.10 215.60 232.60 130.20 76.40 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 948.50
2001/02 17.30 115.60 79.60 221.00 191.70 279.00 61.20 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 965.40
2002/03 52.00 58.20 70.20 146.80 143.10 202.20 100.30 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 772.80
2003/04 - 49.10 79.60 218.40 163.90 219.20 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 730.20
2004/05 - 59.00 72.60 171.70 243.60 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 00.00 546.90
MV 999.70

Table 2: Hydraulic conductivity and Transmissivity values estimated from statistical grain size methods.
Hydraulic conductivity cm/s Transmissivity cm2/s
Sample Hazen Harleman Uma et.al Hazen Harleman Uma et.al Thick
location (1893) et.al(1963) (1989) (1893) et.al(1963) (1989) ness
(cm)
Pri. Sch 1×103 6.4× 102 3.8 × 101 1.5 × 105 9.6 × 104 5.7 × 103 150
New makt. 6.4 × 102 4.1 × 102 2.4 × 101 1.5 × 105 9.4 × 104 5.5 × 103 230
Walawal 4.0 × 102 2.5 × 101 1.5 × 100 5.2 × 103 3.3 × 103 2.0 × 102 130
Fachi 8.1 × 100 5.2 × 100 3.1 × 10-1 8.9 × 102 5.7 × 102 3.4 × 101 200
Gadamaisaje 1.0 10-1 6.4 × 10-2 3.8 × 10-4 1.0 × 101 6.4 × 100 3.8 × 10-2 150
Sabongari 3.6 × 102 2.3 × 102 1.3 × 101 7.2 × 104 4.6 × 104 2.6 × 103 200
Mbilla 3.6 × 102 2.3 × 102 1.3 × 101 7.6 × 104 4.8 × 104 2.7 × 103 210

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Table 3: Gully parameters as obtained

from the field
Gully site Depth(m)
Width(m)
Primary 1.5 4
school
New market 2.3 2.6
area
Walawal 1.3 1.5
Fachi 1.1 2.9
Gada maisaje 1.0 4.0
Sabon gari 2.0 1.5
Mbilla 2.1 1.6
Mean value 1.6 2.6

Table 4: Consistency values, optimum moisture content and maximum dry density of the samples.
Sample location Liquid limit Plastic Limit Plasticity Consistency Optimum Maximum
(LL) (PL) index (PI) index (IC) moisture dry density
content (MDD)
(OMC)
Gombi 1 Primary sch 48.0 27.0 21.0 2.2 7.4 2.12
New market 45.0 23.0 22.0 1.9 9.3 2.02
Walawal 48.0 19.0 29.0 1.6 10.2 1.96
Fachi 33.0 22.0 11.0 2.7 10.1 1.83
Gada maisaje 33.0 20.0 12.7 2.4 11.3 1.97
Sabon gari 47.0 22.5 24.5 1.8 7.4 2.09
Mbilla 46.0 27.0 19.0 2.4 9.6 1.96

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