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Radiogenic Heat Potential Evaluation of Apomu, Southwest Nigeria: Implications for Renewable Energy improvement and exploration

DOI: https://doi.org/jobasr

Lawal, T. O.

Fawale, O.

Sunday, J. A.

Egbeyale, G. B.

Issa, S. O.

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A Publication of the Faculty of Physical Sciences, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria.
Abstract
The growing world’s request for clean and sustainable energy sources requires the evaluation of alternative energy potentials, which include Radiogenic Heat Production (RHP). This research work evaluates the quantity of RHP of Apomu, a geologically significant town in Southwest Nigeria, with the objective of measuring its appropriateness for renewable energy exploration. Therefore, the most common naturally occurring radioactive elements, primarily thorium concentration (Th), potassium (K) and uranium (U) were subjected to an empirical Mathematical expression over eighteen (18) major rock units. Some of the rock units include Coarse Granite Biotite (Ogm), Coarsehomblende Granite (OGh), Fine Grained biotite (Ogf), Undifferentiated Schict (Su), Carbonatceous/Slate Phyliteandmeta Siltstone (Sp), Amphibole Schist (Sa), Mylonites (aMy), Bandgneiss (bG), Granitegneiss (GG), Granuliteandgneiss, Banded Iron Formation (Bif), Biotitegranite (Ogf), Coarsehomblendegranite (Ogh), Medium to Coarse granitebiotite (Ogm), Bioitehomblendegneiss (Bgh), Pegmatite(P), Dolerite (D) and Biotitegranodiorite (Ogd). The results obtained from the mathematical expression revealed the RHP values range from 0.112 μW/m3 to 9.746 μW/m3 with an average value of 4.929 μW/m3. The highest RHP value of 9.746 μW/m3 was recorded along Dolerite (D) rock units, while the lowest value of 0.118 μW/m3 was recorded over phylite and meta siltstone (Sp) rock outcrops. In addition, the spatial distribution of the RHP over the area reveals an even distribution of heat production with high values dominating, while the lower values were observed to be scanty in the study area. Meanwhile, the order of increasing RHP magnitude of rock units arranged is: D >Sp >Ogb >Ogh >Su >Bif > Bgh >Ogf >GG>Sa >Ogm>Ge>aMy>P. In conclusion, the RHP values obtained from these rock units are high enough to explore geothermal energy sources.
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