ECONOMIC MINERALS RESOURCES IN NIGERIA

THE MOST ECONOMIC MINERALS RESOURCES IN NIGERIA

In this article, I will be sharing with you on the most economic mineral resources in Nigeria. Before we proceed in this topic of major importance, it is imperative we gain full understanding of the term "Economic Minerals"?  Economic Mineral are Mineral Resources that has commercial value. That fully understood, we can now proceed in our learning. 

Nigeria is the most populous country in the African continent with a population figure of 140 million people according to the last 2006 census, Nigeria have the highest resources in West Africa.

Nigeria mineral resources are considered as a source of revenue to the country. Man greatest need on earth is food. In different Geographical location in Nigeria agriculture was the first importance resources in terms of cash crop and second was the mining of mineral ores and oil. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Among all these minerals in Nigeria the three major ones are coal, Tin and Petroleum. In the methods of mining we have surface mining and underground mining. In surface mining, open-cast or open-pit method is used, when the mineral deposit lies within a few metres of the surface, open-cast method can be carry out but the unwanted material lying on top of the mineral deposit must be removed first, if it soft it can be dig out. If it is hard, there is a need of explosives to loosen it. Minerals like coal, iron ores, copper and tin are extracted through this method if they occur near or on the surface.

This method is also applied in the production of non-metallic minerals or industrial minerals such as sand and gravel, phosphate, clay, limestone and gypsum. The mining of coal in Enugu was carried out by the underground method of horizontal tunnels.

Underground Mining, in this method, the mineral deposit is at a depth or covered by a great thickness of other rocks on the surface. Thus the extraction of mineral can be carryout through sinking wells and brought to the surface by pressure. Minerals like petroleum and natural gas and coal are extracted through underground method.

Libya is the largest producer of crude oil in Africa and Nigeria is the second largest producer of crude oil in Africa. In August 3rd 1956, Nigeria joined the world nations of oil producing and later become 6th largest oil exporter in the world. Since 1970’s oil has accounted for 80% of the Nigerian government’s revenue and 95% of the country export earnings.

 

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Reviewed by: Omagbemi Nelson Tosan