A Review of Exploitation Techniques of Barite Deposits of Nasarawa State, Nigeria

¹Materials Science and Engineering Department, Kwara State University, Nigeria

²National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Nigeria

³Department of Geology and Mineral Sciences, University of Ilorin, Nigeria

⁴Materials Science and Engineering Department, African University of Science and Technology, Nigeria

*Corresponding author: Abdulraman Sikiru Ottan, Materials Science and Engineering Department, Kwara State University, Malete, Ilorin, Nigeria, Tel: +2348033979980 E-mail: [email protected]

Received: April 23, 2022

Published: October 10, 2022

Citation: Abdulraman SO, et al. (2022). A Review of Exploitation Techniques of Barite Deposits of Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Material Science. 4(2):14.

Copyright: Abdulraman SO, et al. © (2022).

ABSTRACT

The geometry and types of barite deposit affect mining economics and processing complexity. Nasarawa state barite deposits are cavity filling types with inherent complex geometry that is beyond the comprehension of the workforce (artisanal miners) involved in the production value chain. This study reviewed the barite production from Nasarawa State; and the current exploitation techniques were evaluated through monitoring of field operations; questionnaire; and personal interview. The questionnaire addressed critical issues relating to exploitation of barite which include management and control of barite mining and processing operations; level of technical skill; mechanization; mine safety and hygiene; mine productivity; host community relation; and mineral economics related matters such as monetization of mined products. Twelve (12) barite mining locations were visited, and eighteen (18) barite veins were studied. The veins run almost parallel to each other and averagely 80cm thick, 1m wide, and overlaid by about 20m overburden of varying materials (laterite, and sandstone, etc.). Consensus submission of the respondents and interviewees is that lack of technical skill and support hinders efficient operations at the mine sites. Barite mining pits are abandoned prematurely and inexhaustibly resulting from poor exploitation techniques due to lack of adequate profiling of the deposits that impacts negatively on sustainable development of Nasarawa state barite deposits. It becomes imperative therefore to delineate the deposits and adopt appropriate exploitation technique while enhancing the technical skills of the workforce through human capacity development.

Keywords: Nasarawa, Barite, Exploitation, ASM, Sustainable Workforce, Vein, Mechanization