Estimation of Volume of Sand Using Vertical Electrical Resistivity Imaging: A Case Study in Tombia, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

The electrical resistivity survey using the Schlumberger electrode configuration was conducted in parts of the Yenagoa local government area, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The survey was aimed at estimating the volume of sand in a piece of land measuring 60 m by 30 m known as the study area.  Nine 1D Vertical Electrical Sounding Points were acquired in the study area. ABEM Terrameter SAS 1000 was the instrument used with IPI2win and ZONDIP software for processing. The result obtained reveals that the area contains three layers within the depth of investigation. Lateritic sand with resistivity ranging from 42 Ωm to 1029 Ωm and thickness varying from 1.3 m to 3.0 m made up the first layer. The second layer is sand with resistivity values ranging from 476 Ωm to 3089 Ωm with thickness varying from 10.8 m to 23.2 m. The third layer is sandy clay with resistivity values ranging from 24 to 1024 Ωm. The survey shows that a considerable quantity of sand can be dredged from the area. The estimated volume of sand within the area of study is estimated to be approximately 550,767.60 tonnes. The result shows that sand deposits can be mined economically for domestic and building purposes and are also suitable for other engineering and construction work due to their inherent water permeability and storage ability.