Solid mineral deposits in Nigeria

No doubt, the country is endowed with numerous mineral resources. With the nation embarking on a new drive to turn its large deposits of sold minerals into major contributions to national income in order to diversify its foreign earnings away from oil. In recent times, there have been key developments affecting the sector that are intended to make it more conducive for private investment.

With the solid minerals sector having the capacity to provide an estimated three million jobs, both in its upstream and downstream sectors, there is local and international demand for solid minerals resources, which provide substantial trade and investment opportunities for both local and international investors. Recent policy reforms have brought the solid minerals sector to the fore. However, below is a profile of solid mineral deposits in the nation yet to see robust foreign investors’ participation

TALC

An estimated reserve of over 100 million tones of talc has been obtained in Niger, Osun, Kogi, Kwara, Ogun, Taraba and Kaduna States. There are only two medium size talc processing plants currently operating in Nigeria and both are located in Niger State. The talc industry represents one of the most versatile sectors of the industrial minerals of the world. The exploitation of the vast talc deposits in Nigeria would therefore satisfy not only local demands but also that of the international markets as well.

IRON ORE

There are over 3 billion tonnes of iron ore found in Kogi, Enugu, Niger, Zamfara and Kaduna States. Iron is currently being mined at Itakpe (Kogi State), which is more or less at the center of the region of crystalline iron deposits. The large deposit of oolitic iron ores of Kogi and Enugu States are yet to be fully explored.

 GOLD

There are proven reserves of both alluvial and primary deposits of gold with proven reserves in the shiest belt covering the western half of Nigeria. At present, exploitation of alluvial deposits is being carried out mostly by artisan miners in a few places in the country. A number of primary deposits, which are sufficiently big for large scale mining, have been identified in the northwest and southwest parts of the county.

BITUMEN

The occurrence of Bitumen deposits in Nigeria is indicated at about 42 billion tones almost as twice the amount of existing reserves of crude petroleum. When fully developed, the industry will no doubt meet local requirements for road construction and also become a foreign exchange earner for the country.

ROCK SALT

The national demand for table salt, caustic soda, chlorine, sodium bicarbonate, sodium hypochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide exceeds one million tones. A colossal amount of money is expended annually to import these chemicals by various companies including tanneries, food beverages, paper and pulp, bottling and other industries including the oil companies.

There are salt springs at Awe (Plateau State), Abakaliki (Enugu State) and Uburu (Imo State), while rock salt is available in Benue State. A total reserve of 1.5 billion tones has been indicated, and further investigations are now being carried out by government to ascertain the quantum of reserves.

GYPSUM

Gypsum is an important input for the production of cement. It is used for the production of Plaster of Paris (P.O.P) and classroom chalk, etc. A strategy for large-scale mining of gypsum used in the cement industries is urgently required to sustain existing plants and meet future expansion. Current cement production is put at 8 million tones per annum while the national requirement is 9.6 million tones. About one billion tones of gypsum deposits are spread over many states in Nigeria.

 LEAD/ZINC

An estimated 10 million tons of lead/zinc veins are spread over eight States in Nigeria. Joint venture partners are encouraged to develop and exploit the various lead/zinc deposits all over the country.

BENTONITE AND BARYTE

These are the main constituents of the mud used in the drilling of all types of oil wells. The Nigerian baryte had specific gravity of about 4.3. Over 7.5 million tons of baryte have been identified in Taraba and Bauchi States. Large bentonite reserves of 700 million tonnes are available in many states of the Federation ready for massive development and exploitation.

COAL

Nigerian Coal is one the most bituminous in the world owing to its low sulfur and ash content and therefore the most environment friendly. There are nearly 3.00 billion tonnes of indicated reserves in 17 identified coalfields and over 600 million tonnes of proven reserves.

GEMSTONES

Gemstone mining has boomed in various parts of Plateau, Kaduna and Bauchi States for years. Some of these gemstones include Sapphire, Ruby, Aquamarine, Emerald, Tourmaline, Topaz, Garnet, Amethyst, Zircon and Flourspar which are among the world’s best. Good prospects exist in this area for viable investments.

KAOLIN

An estimated reserve of 3 billion tonnes of good kaolinitic clays has been identified.

TANTALITE

Large deposits of Tantalite are known to occur in Nasarawa, Gombe and Kogi tates as well as the Federal Capital Territory. The deposits are both alluvial and primary in the numerous pegmatite bodies that are available in these areas. Grades of well over 50 percent Ta2O5 are found. Private investors are invited to stake concessions for the development and exploitation of tantalite in these areas.

 Pelletisation of Coal for Domestic Use

Given the large deposits of brown coal in the tertiary sediments east and west of River Niger; the country can cash in on foreign investors’ technology to produce coal pellets for industrial use, coal briquettes for domestic use; that is, to replace firewood.