Submit your papersSubmit Now
For Enquiries: [email protected]
IIARD LogoIIARD

A Review of the Geology and Solid Mineral Resources of the Upper Benue Trough, Northeastern Nigeria

Okochi, C.B., Anochie, E.U., Amadike, M.P., Chukwumlu, R.C., Okonkwo, S.I. and Okeke, O.C.

Abstract

The Upper Benue Trough, a sedimentary basin in northeastern Nigeria, holds significant geological and economic importance. Formed during the Cretaceous rift phase of the West and Central African Rift System (WCARS), the trough comprises of the Bima Sandstone Formation, Yolde Formation, and Pindiga Formation which has a total thickness of 6,000 meters of sedimentary rocks. Mineral deposits, including lead, zinc, barytes, gold, chromium, Uranium, and coal occur extensively throughout the region. Uranium, lead, zinc, and barytes deposits, particularly, exhibit potential for economic exploitation due to their diverse applications in energy storage, construction, manufacturing, and medical uses. This study provides an overview of the geology, tectonic evolution, and mineral resources of the Upper Benue Trough, highlighting its prospects for contributing to Nigeria's economic growth and development.

Keywords

Upper Benue TroughNigeriageologymineral resourcesleadzincbarytes

References

Akande, S.O., 1999. Fluid flow histories in the cretaceous sediments in the Benue rift basin, Nigeria: fluids inclusions, isotopes and alteration mineralogy constraints. Nape Bull., pp.1191-1206 Avbovbo, A.A., Ayoola, E.O. and Osahon, G.A., 1986. Depositional and structural styles inn Chad Basin of the northeastern Nigeria. AAPG Bull.,1787-1798. Barber, W., Tait, E.A. and Thompson, J.H., 1954. The geology of the lower Gongola. Ann. Rpt Geological Survey of Nigeria, 1952-1953, 18-20 Benkhelil, J., 1989. The Origin and evolution of the Cretaceous Benue Trough, (Nigeria). J. Afr. EarthSci., pp.251-282 Braide, S. P. (1992a). Structure and sedimentology of the Yola Arm, Upper Benue Trough, Nigeria. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 191-202. Braide, S. P. (1992a). Studies on the sedimentation and tectonics of the Yola arm of the Benue Trough: facies architecture and their tectonic significance. J. Mining and Geol.,23-31. Bute, S.I. (2013). Uranium Ore Deposits in Northeastern Nigeria. Geology and Respects. Continental Journal of Earth Sciences 8(1), 21-28 Dada, S.S. and Suh, C.E. (2006). Finding economic Uranium in Nigerian, energy mix. Proceedings, first PTDF Workshop on energy minerals in Nigeria. University of Maidugiri, March 2006, 34-43. Folorunso, I. O. , Bale, R. B., Adekeye, J. I. D. Geology and Mineralogy of the Akiri Copper Mineralization, Middle Benue Trough, Nigeria. A paper presented the 49th Annual International Conference and Exhibitions organized by Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) at Ibadan on 19th March, 2013. Funtua I.I., Okujeni, C.D. et. al., 1988 “Geology and Genesis of Uranium mineralization in Kanawa and Gubrunde Horst”. NE Nigeria. Journal of Mining and Geology, 8-15, 1993. Funtua, I.I., Okujeni, C.D. et al., “Exploration And mineralization of uranium” Journal of Mining and Geology. 1-12, 1988. Guiraud, M. 1991. Mecanisme de formation du Bassin creatace sur decrochements multiple de la Haute –Benoue (Nigeria) Bulletin Centres Researches Exploration –Production Elf- Aquitaine 15, 11-67 Hanor, J. "Barite-celestine geochemistry and environments of formation". Reviews in Mineralogy (Washington, DC: Mineralogical Society of America), 2000, 40: 193–275. IAEA, 2009. World Distribution of Uranium deposits (UDEPO) with Uranium deposit classification IAECA – 1629, Vienna, Austria, 126p. Ige, T.A. are Funtua I.T (2000) Delayed Neutren Country technique in prospecting for Uranium within N.E. Nigeria J. Mining and Geology, 36(2) 137-143. Ige, T.A., Okujeni, C. D., and Elegba S.B., (1994). Distribution Pattern of REE and other elements in the host rocks of the Gubrunde Uranium occurrence, N.E. Nigeria J. of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 178(2) 365-373. Jun Xu, San-Yuan Zhu., Tai-Yi Luo., Wen Zhou, and Yi-liang Li, Uranium mineralization and its Radioactive decay induced carbonization in black Shale-hosted polymetallic sulfide ore layer, southwest China. Society of economic Geology, 2015. Ministry of Mines and Steel Development. Barytes Exploration Opportunities in Nigeria, 2008, 1 – 7. Obaje, N. G. (2000). Geology and mineral resources of Nigeria. Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences, 92 Obaje, N. G. Geology and Mineral Resources of Nigeria. Springer Dordrecht Heidelberg London New York, 2009, 57 – 62. Offodile, M. E. The Geology of the Middle Benue, Nigeria. Palaentological Institute, University Uppsala, Special Publication, 1976, 4: 1–166. 151-145. Ogunleye, P.O and Okujeni, C.D, “The geology and geochemistry of Zona uranium occurrence, Upper Benue Trough, NE Nigeria”. Nigerian jour. of mining and geology, 1-11, 2004. Oha, I. A., Onuoha, K. M. . Contrasting Styles of Pb-Zn-Ba Mineralization in the Lower Benue Trough, Southern Nigeria. A paper presented at the 49th Annual International Conference and Exhibitions organized by Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) at Ibadan on 19th March, 2013 Petters, S.W. 1978. Mid-Cretaceous paleoenvironments and blostratigraphy of the Benue Trough, Nigeria. Bull geol. Soc. Am 89, 151-145. Rubin, A. E. . “Mineralogy of Meteorite Groups”. Meteoritic and Planetary Science, 1997, 32 (2): 23 –247. Saleh, I.B, “Uranium ore deposits in NE Nigeria: Geology and prospect”, Continental journal of earth Sciences, 21-28, 2013. Samaila, N. K., et al. (2006). Structural analysis of the Upper Benue Trough, Nigeria. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 44(4-5), 432-444. Suh, E.C and Silas, D, “Fault rock and differential reactivity of minerals in the Kanawa Violaine Uraniferous vein, NE, Nigeria”, Journal of structural Geology, 1037-1044, 1997. Suh, E.C., and Silas, D, Mesostructural and microstructural evidences for a two stage tectono- metallogenic model for Uranium. Nonrenewable resources, 75-83, 1998. Suh, E.C., Silas, D., Ajayi, T.R. and Matheis, G. “Integrated structural and mineral alteration study of The zona uranium anomaly, Northeast Nigeria”. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 129- 140, 1998. Unrug, R. (1993). The Supercontinent Gondwana and its break-up. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 17(2), 149-159. Zaborski, P., Ugodulunwa, F., Idornigie, A., Nnabo, P. and Ibe., k. 1998. Stratigraphy and structure of the cretaceous Gongola Basin, northeast Nigeria. Bulletin centres Recharches Exploration production Elf. Aquitaine 21(for 1997) 153-185.

More Articles from IIARD INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT