Ore Geology, Exploration and Exploitation by Timileyin Ayomide Olanipekun
Food is essential for human survival. Phosphate rock, a critical mineral for the production of fe... more Food is essential for human survival. Phosphate rock, a critical mineral for the production of fertilisers, is key to achieving food security globally. This article reviews the mineralogy, geological nature, processing and economics of this important resource. Apatite is the primary mineral of phosphate rock. Phosphate rock occurs geologically as sedimentary phosphorites, guano, and igneous deposits. Phosphate rocks are beneficiated by flotation. Morocco (Western Sahara, inclusive) and China rank amongst the highest producers of phosphate rock. Africa holds over 80 percent of world's phosphate rock reserves. As at the year 2016, the price of marketable phosphate rock was USD 72 per metric tonne.
Ore deposits are sources of raw materials for industries. This paper examines the types of ore de... more Ore deposits are sources of raw materials for industries. This paper examines the types of ore deposits in Nigeria. Ores of iron, tin-niobium-tantalum deposits, and precious metals in the Nigerian basement complex are predominantly associated with the metasediments (gneisses and schists). Associated with the older granites and metavolcanics are ores of nickel, chromium. The processes of ore formation in Nigeria vary from metamorphism and metasomatism to sedimentation. Base metals (Lead and Zinc) and some uranium deposits accumulate in Nigerian sedimentary basins. Presented in this article is a table listing all ore deposits, their types, mode of occurrence, and locations in Nigeria.
Non-metallic minerals are relevant in industries. In this paper, the different industrial mineral... more Non-metallic minerals are relevant in industries. In this paper, the different industrial minerals in Nigeria needs a detailed exploration. Small-scale and artisanal mining dominates the non-mineral sector. This article provides information about the geological occurrences of the industrial minerals in different states in Nigeria. Also, this work reviews the methods of exploitation and the stage of mineral development.
Gold, a precious native metal, exists as occurrences in the Nigerian schist belts. This work was ... more Gold, a precious native metal, exists as occurrences in the Nigerian schist belts. This work was a term paper reviewing the works of authors on the ore geology, lithologic, and structural mode of formation of the platinum group element in Nigeria. It is common to find gold in the form of veins, stringers, lenses, and reefs in the regional N-S shear zone (in the Northwestern part of Nigeria). Generally, gold closely associates with quartzofeldspathic and sulphidic minerals (quartz and pyrite, respectively). Most of the gold deposits accumulate in the Maru, Anka, Kushaka, Zuru, Egbe-Isanlu, and Ilesha supracrustal zones.
Drafts by Timileyin Ayomide Olanipekun
MASTER'S FIELD SCHOOL AT THE DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN , 2018
Geological fieldwork carried out at the Idi-Orupa, Alagbon, Akoda, Idi-Aka, and Foritaje environs... more Geological fieldwork carried out at the Idi-Orupa, Alagbon, Akoda, Idi-Aka, and Foritaje environs of Oyo and Osun states reported the lithologies, structures, and the economic potentials of the over 25 sq. Km land area. The mapped area (longitudes 4 deg 0’ 0’’ E and 4 deg 3’ 30’’ E and latitudes 7 deg 41’ 15’’ N and 7 deg 45’ 00’’ N) is part of the basement complex of Southwestern Nigeria. Quartzite and quartz schists cover seventy percent of this area. Other dominant rock types are migmatite, banded, and granite gneisses (migmatites and gneisses make up 25 %), granite (4 %), and amphibolite (1%) respectively. The general strike of the rocks in this area is NE-SW. Structures such as quartzofeldspathic veins, ptygmatic folds, fractures (mostly discordant), and faults (normal and dextral types) populate the area. The area bears imprints of the Pan-African orogeny. Also, the geological history of the area suggests that the rocks in the area originated from prograding regional metamorphism of the sedimentary rocks (sandstone and shale) and volcanics (such as basaltic bombs). The presence of numerous healed veins across the major fracture zone in the area suggests the presence of hydrothermal deposits. The gneisses and gneisses are useful as aggregates and aesthetics in the construction industry. With the presence of amphibolite, ores associated with ferromagnesian minerals (chromite, niccolite, and magnetite) may be found under detailed exploration.
Note: The fieldwork was carried out (between July and August 2018) as a course (GEY 781) in the Master's degree program at the Department of Geology, University of Ibadan.
Papers by Timileyin Ayomide Olanipekun
Energy geoscience, Jul 1, 2022
Lateritic bauxite are the products of intense subareal weathering of rocks. It is characterised b... more Lateritic bauxite are the products of intense subareal weathering of rocks. It is characterised by a particular enrichment of aluminium-hydroxide minerals such as gibbsite, boehmite and diaspore. Based on geological occurrences, bauxite is classified as lateritic, karstic, tikhvin type and about 86% deposits of the world are lateritic bauxite deposits. They typically are in stable areas of plateaux, where they had sufficient geological time to form and were protected from erosion. India is endowed about 3896 million tons of bauxite resources and Maharashtra state constitutes about 5 % of the total assets. The medium to high grade lateritic bauxite occurrences are located in western Maharashtra which spread up in two distinct belts, viz. high level and low-level coastal areas. The coastal bauxite deposits in Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts are located at altitude varying between 50 to 350 m above mean sea level (msl), while high level bauxite deposits of Kolhapur, Satara and Sangli districts occur on the plateaus with an elevation 900 to 1300 m above msl. Most of the laterite of the western Maharashtra overlies the Deccan Trap basalt, except in some part of coastal areas, it either caps the Kaladgi sandstone or overlie the Dharwar pebble beds. The lateritic bauxite deposits of the western Maharashtra have been studied with reference to its geology, chemico-mineralogy and petrological characteristics. Field studies indicate the following successive stages developed during in-situ weathering: Deccan trap basalt (parent rock) → → → → → weathered basalt → → → → → saprolite/lithomargic clay → → → → → bauxite → → → → → duricrust (ferruginous, aluminous laterites). The geological, physical and chemico-mineralogical characteristics of the bauxite and laterite located in two belts is distinguished from one another. For the present study, two bauxite deposits namely Ringewadi and Velas located in Kolhapur (high-level) and Raigad (coastal) district of western Maharashtra respectively have been selected. The representative samples of bauxite, laterite, saprolite, parent rock have been collected. In present paper, comparative study has been done and the geological, geomorphological, geochemical, mineralogical, petrographic and physical characteristics of low level (coastal) and high-level lateritic bauxite deposits are highlighted.
Fuel
Abstract The rare earth elements (REE) possess a beneficial combination of chemical and physical ... more Abstract The rare earth elements (REE) possess a beneficial combination of chemical and physical properties, making them valuable for most advanced branches of engineering and technology. Alternative sources of REE are desirable due to limited reserves of conventional REE containing minerals over the world combined with disproportionate supply over demand in the commodity markets. This study investigated the occurrence of REE and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in Cretaceous Nigerian coals for prospective industrial applications. Results show that the coals’ crystalline mineral matter comprises quartz, kaolinite, and illite with minor quantities of feldspar, hematite, magnetite, calcite, dolomite, which indicate detrital mineral origins. Elemental relationships (such as Al2O3/TiO2, Cr/Th vs. Sc/Th, and Co/Th vs. La/Sc) suggest sediment-source regions with mafic, intermediate or felsic compositions. REE are either strongly fractionated or characterized by light-enrichment along with outlook coefficient (Coutl) values that suggest the coals are prospective substitute sources for REE and yttrium (REY) recovery. Several minerals including jarosite, goethite, epsomite, ferrohexahydrite, natrojarosite, rozenite, and gypsum were detected in trace amounts. REE mineral phases were not identified but only amorphous phases containing Ce, La, Nd, Th, Pr, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, and Hf. Maceral composition (high vitrinite), presence of iron-containing minerals (hematite and magnetite), high carbon contents, reduced volatile matter and low ash content favoured the formation of naturally occurring multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) structures in Maiganga (MGA) coal. Hence, the present study is the first scientific report on the naturally occurring REEs and MWC nanophases in Cretaceous coals from the Benue Trough.
Fuel, 2021
The rare earth elements (REE) possess a beneficial combination of chemical and physical propertie... more The rare earth elements (REE) possess a beneficial combination of chemical and physical properties, making them valuable for most advanced branches of engineering and technology. Alternative sources of REE are desirable due to limited reserves of conventional REE containing minerals over the world combined with disproportionate supply over demand in the commodity markets. This study investigated the occurrence of REE and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in Cretaceous Nigerian coals for prospective industrial applications. Results show that the coals' crystalline mineral matter comprises quartz, kaolinite, and illite with minor quantities of feldspar, hematite, magnetite, calcite, dolomite, which indicate detrital mineral origins. Elemental relationships (such as Al 2 O 3 /TiO 2 , Cr/Th vs. Sc/Th, and Co/Th vs. La/Sc) suggest sediment-source regions with mafic, intermediate or felsic compositions. REE are either strongly fractionated or characterized by light-enrichment along with outlook coefficient (Coutl) values that suggest the coals are prospective substitute sources for REE and yttrium (REY) recovery. Several minerals including jarosite, goethite, epsomite, ferrohexahydrite, natrojarosite, rozenite, and gypsum were detected in trace amounts. REE mineral phases were not identified but only amorphous phases containing Ce, La, Nd, Th, Pr, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, and Hf. Maceral composition (high vitrinite), presence of ironcontaining minerals (hematite and magnetite), high carbon contents, reduced volatile matter and low ash content favoured the formation of naturally occurring multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNTs) structures in Maiganga (MGA) coal. Hence, the present study is the first scientific report on the naturally occurring REEs and MWC nanophases in Cretaceous coals from the Benue Trough.
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Ore Geology, Exploration and Exploitation by Timileyin Ayomide Olanipekun
Drafts by Timileyin Ayomide Olanipekun
Note: The fieldwork was carried out (between July and August 2018) as a course (GEY 781) in the Master's degree program at the Department of Geology, University of Ibadan.
Papers by Timileyin Ayomide Olanipekun
Note: The fieldwork was carried out (between July and August 2018) as a course (GEY 781) in the Master's degree program at the Department of Geology, University of Ibadan.