GEOPHYSICAL EVALUATION OF SOILS AROUND ST. PETER AN GLICAN CHURCH’S CEMETRY, IKERE-EKITI SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA.

This study investigates the subsurface conditions around St. Peter Anglican Church’s Cemetery, Ikere-Ekiti, using the electrical resistivity method to assess the presence and migration of necroleachate within the shallow geological environment. Two-dimensional electrical resistivity tomography was conducted along two traverses to delineate subsurface lithological units and identify possible contaminated zones. The results reveal a subsurface sequence consisting of topsoil(18-113 Ωm/ 23-101 Ωm), weathered layer(102-458 Ωm /114-488 Ωm) and partly weathered layer(459-153 Ωm), fractured zones(17.5-88.6 Ωm), and fresh basement(>1335-1534 Ωm to infinity) typical of basement complex terrain. Extremely low resistivity values ranging from 0–25 Ωm in traverse 1 and 0-17 Ωm in traverse 2 were identified and interpreted as necroleachate-affected zones. Traverse 1 showed predominantly shallow contamination, while Traverse 2 exhibited deeper and more extensive leachate accumulation associated with fractured bedrock. These variations indicate that subsurface permeability, degree of fracturing, and geological conditions play significant roles in controlling contaminant migration. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of electrical resistivity imaging as a non-invasive tool for assessing environmental risks associated with cemetery activities and provides baseline geophysical information for future integrated environmental investigations.