INTEGRATED GEOPHYSICAL INVESTIGATION OF POLLUTION EXTENT IN A CEMETERY ENVIRONMENT: A CASE STUDY OF THE SECOND CEMETERY, BENIN CITY, SOUTH-SOUTH NIGERIA.

This study applied Very Low Frequency Electromagnetic (VLF-EM) profiling and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) to investigate potential subsurface contamination within a cemetery environment in Benin City, Nigeria. Conductive anomalies detected from the VLF-EM survey were further examined using two-dimensional resistivity imaging. The ERT results revealed zones of markedly low resistivity (1–120 Ωm), characteristic of leachate-saturated, unconsolidated sandy soils. Several contaminant plumes were delineated, extending to depths of approximately 3–12 m, with some migrating downward toward the shallow aquifers that supply water to surrounding residential communities. These findings raise concerns regarding the potential degradation of groundwater quality in the area. The integrated VLF-EM/ERT approach proved effective in identifying conductive anomalies, enhancing interpretational confidence, and improving subsurface delineation within this complex burial setting.