The surface water systems of Ghana serve as a major source of drinking water, besides other multi-purpose benefit of hydro-electrical power generation and transportation. Thus, the dependence and benefits from such resources are of national interest. For instance, the Pra river of the South-Western surface water system of Ghana was a major consideration for a projected 5 billion m³ water demand in the year 2020 and “African Water Vision 2025”. In recent times, the colour state of the Pra river and similar surface water bodies of the Offin and Oda rivers has attracted intense public discussion. The prime issue relates to incessant illegal artisanal gold/diamond mining on or along these rivers. In order to assess the state of these rivers, water samples were taken, and analysed at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Laboratory (CSIR, Accra-Ghana) to investigate their physico-chemical quality. The research objective was to assess the extent of their water pollution by measuring physico-chemical parameters of turbidity, colour, pH and content of selected metals. A total of 18 preserved bottled samples [(5 from Offin river and 2 boreholes), 5 from Oda river and 5 from Pra river and 1 borehole)] were analysed, and results compared with portable water standards as defined by the WHO and CSIR (GS-175-1) of Ghana.

Exploration success relies heavily on the data obtained, but, significantly on the type of analytical methods deployed and the interpretation reached. A poorly analyzed data may obscure the true reflectivity of the data, and thus, compromised the decision made. A combined data processing approach of descriptive statistics, enrichment-depletion data normalization, geospatial elemental distribution, and stacked overlayed comparison of elements have been used in this study. The prime purpose was to demonstrate potential elemental anomalies, and predict areas of higher degree of confidence for subsequent exploration and mineral resource evaluation. One-hundred and sixty-six stream sediment samples from the Dodoma Region of the Tanzania Craton have been examined; to reveal potential elements or mineral commodity that warrant further exploration. Forty-three elements of target were examined, as this craton is globally known for its rich earth mineral commodity. Our result indicates an enrichment of transition metals (TMs) (Cu, Ni, Co, Cr, Mn and Zn), High Field Strength Elements (Y, Th, U, Zr, Nb, Hf, Ta and Pb), Large Ion Lithophile Elements (Ba and Rb) and Rare-Earth Elements (La and Ce), Platinum Group Element (Pd and Pt) and other metals (Au, As, Bi, W, Mo and Li).