FRAMEWORK

A total of ten (10) beds exposed at the Ekosodin/Evbuomore were obtained and studied. These beds belong to the Benin Formation of the Niger Delta Basin. Sieve analyses were carried out on them, with the results plotted and the mean, standard deviation, skewness and kurtosis calculated. These calculations were used to interpret the provenance, depositional process and environment of deposition. The beds mainly contain quartz, feldspar and detrital fragments revealing their igneous and metamorphic origin. The results indicate that the grain size were fine to medium to very coarse sand; poor to very moderately well sorted. The results of the mineral assemblage based on the percentage of quartz, feldspar and lithic fragment reveal that the beds are quartz arenite, subarkose, arkose and lithic arkose. Grain sizes are mostly medium to coarse, with some fine grains in Bed 5. Grain shape is mostly angular and subrounded, with few rounded and sub angular. The values obtained from the standard deviation for the beds suggest near moderately well sorted to poorly sort. The sorting show that the maturity of the bed samples ranges from immature (BED 3, 4 and 8) to submature (BED 1, 5 and 7) to mature (BED 2, 6, 9 and 10). The Bivariant plot of inclusive skewness against inclusive standard deviation indicates that the depositional process that led to the deposition of the beds is fluvial (river systems) suggesting a low energy of transportation of the sediments as well as beach sediments. Economic importance the sands serve as the main aquifer in Benin Formation. The abundance of quartz makes it a potential for use in glass making. The sands are mined/excavated and used in construction viz; concrete making, moulding of blocks, etc. My suggestions for further studies are, thus: More detailed study should be done with morphoscopic and petrographic analysis to ascertain the minerals present in traces. Environmental studies should be done in the area under study to ascertain the presence of any heavy minerals that is a potential health hazard to the subsurface water.