GEOLOGY, MINERALOGY AND GEOCHEMISTRY OF IRONSTONE EXPOSED AROUND MANIGI LOCALITY, NORTHERN BIDA BASIN, NIGERIA

GEOLOGY, MINERALOGY AND GEOCHEMISTRY OF IRONSTONE EXPOSED AROUND MANIGI LOCALITY, NORTHERN BIDA BASIN, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

The geology, mineralogy and geochemistry of Ironstone around Manigi locality was investigated in order to provide a comprehensive data on the geological, geochemical and mineralogical composition. Field work, sedimentological logging, and sample collection were carried out at a road cut near Manigi in the northern part of Bida basin. Sixteen representative ironstone samples were subjected to geochemical and mineralogical studies using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, X-ray diffraction techniques and transmitted light microscopy. The sedimentological logging revealed the geology of the area to comprise of two main formations, the Enagi overlain by the Batati Formation. The result of the chemical analysis revealed that the concentrations of Fe2O3 ranges from 28.73 – 85.60w% with an average of 52.65w% and averages of SiO2, Al2O3, and TiO2 are 33.5w%, 4.7w% and 0.9wt% respectively. Other components such as BaO2, CuO, CrO3, MnO, CaO, K2O, ZnO, Br, MgO, Rb2O, ZrO2, CdO, TaO5, PbO, and HfO2 exist in a negligible amount. Calculation of the grade shows that the ironstone grade is 36.823% suggestive of low grade ore. Similarly low concentration of MgO ranging from 0.001wt% to 0.11wt% with an average of 0.025wt% and absence of sulfur in the ironstone shows that the sediment were deposited in a non marine or shallow marine environment. The mineralogical analysis revealed the presence of goethite and hematite as the major iron bearing minerals and quartz as major gangue materials. Thin section petrography reveals quartz as the predominant framework grain and iron cement as the cementing material. The floating contact displayed by the framework grains suggests that the iron cements were eodiagenetic in origin. It can be more useful as cast iron, although adequate beneficiation (to remove excess silica) and transformation of goethite to hematite can make it useful in the production of iron and steel. Further studies to reveal the tonnage, extent and reserve estimation should be undertaken.

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