Petrography and Chemical Characteristics of Sandstone Facies from the Awe Formation, Middle Benue Trough, Nigeria

The study area covers Old Awe town and its environs, part of Akiri sheet 232 S\V. This work focused mostly on the petrography and geochemistry to determine the characteristics of sandstone facies of the Awe Formation. The areas consist of mostly sandstone of the Cenomanian Awe Formation, with intercalation of bands of shales and clays, and \olcanics (basalt). Petrographic analysis of sandstone and basalt reveal minerals such as quartz, feldspar, mica and olivine, pyroxene, quartz respectively. The dominant trend direction ot joint readings on sandstone shows NE-SW trend. Geochemical analysis of samples using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (ED-XRFS) analytical method show the presence of trace elements like Zn, Cr, Cu, Zr, Pb, Rb and Sr. Contour maps and bar charts show that most of the trace elements have concentration relatively higher above normal and their elevated concentrations may have adverse environmental and health effects in the area.