This work investigated the concentrations of iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) in surface water and groundwater within Naraguta Sheet 168 in North Central Nigeria with the view to ascertain and demarcate areas of possible hazards due to high concentrations of these metals (Fe and Mn) in groundwater and surface water within the study area. A total of 79 water samples were systematically collected from different sample locations and analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) Machine. This study established that the concentrations of iron (Fe) in groundwater is (< 0.001 – 0.931 mg/l) while that of manganese (Mn) is (< 0.0005 – 0.65812 mg/l). Also, the concentrations of iron (Fe) in surface water is (< 0.001 – 0.735 mg/l) while that of manganese (Mn) is (< 0.0005 – 0.63137 mg/l). Fe concentrations above the recommended 0.3 mg/l were found around the central, southern and eastern parts of the area corresponding roughly to the areas underlain by the Jos-Bukuru, Ganawuri as well as Forum complexes, while Mn concentrations in excess of the recommended 0.1 mg/l occur mainly within the central part underlain essentially by the Jos-Bukuru Complex. There is a health risk therefore if such water is consumed over a long period. Result of regression analyses for Fe and Mn in both groundwater and surface water gave an R² value of 0.015 and 0.401 respectively. This is not statistically significant. It implies therefore that the most important factor determining the concentrations of iron and manganese in surface and groundwater in this area is the underlying lithology.

Concentrations, Ground Water, Iron, Manganese, Lithology