Geostatistical analysis of trace elements PXRF dataset of near-surface semi-arid soils from Central Botswana

Peter N Eze; Valiant S Mosokomani; Theophilus K Udeigwe; Opeoluwa F Oyedele; Adeniyi F Fagbamigbe

doi:10.1016/j.dib.2016.10.010

Geostatistical analysis of trace elements PXRF dataset of near-surface semi-arid soils from Central Botswana

Data Brief. 2016 Oct 24:9:764-770. doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2016.10.010. eCollection 2016 Dec.

Authors

Peter N Eze¹, Valiant S Mosokomani¹, Theophilus K Udeigwe², Opeoluwa F Oyedele³, Adeniyi F Fagbamigbe⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Earth & Environmental Science, Botswana International University of Science & Technology, Private Bag 016, Palapye, Botswana.
² Independent Scholar, 8901 Avenue T, Lubbock, TX 79423, USA.
³ Department of Mathematics & Statistics, Namibia University of Science & Technology, Windhoek, Namibia.
⁴ Department of Mathematics & Statistical Sciences, Botswana International University of Science & Technology, Palapye, Botswana; Department of Epidemiology & Medical Statistics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Abstract

Geospatial dataset of trace elements including manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), titanium (Ti), rubidium (Rb), strontium (Sr), thorium (Th), Vanadium (V) and Zirconium (Zr) of near-surface soils in a Cu-Ni prospecting field at Airstrip North, Central Botswana were statistically analysed. Grid sampling method was used in the field data collection. The relatively new portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (Delta Premium, 510890, USA) technology in a "soil" mode was used to measure the concentrations of trace elements in the soils. The data presented was obtained from the average reading of two soil samples collected from same point but passed through sieves. Sequel to DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2016.08.026 (P.N. Eze, V.S. Mokosomani, T.K. Udeigwe, O.F. Oyedele, 2016) [1].

Keywords: Botswana; Geochemistry; Grid sampling; Minor elements; Portable X-ray fluorescence; Semi-arid soils.