Geological Distribution Of Mineral Resources In Southwestern Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The occurrence and distribution of the resources of southwestern Nigeria are intimately associated with the geology of the area. The basement complex of southwestern Nigeria lies to the east of the West African Craton, an area that has undergone late Precambrian to early Palaeozoic orogenesis. To the east and south, the Mesozoic-Recent sediments of the Dahomey and Niger Coastal Basıns cover the Basement Complex, The mineral resources of southwestern Nigeria are grouped into three namely: metalliferous, industrial and energy minerals. These minerals can also be grouped into economic mineral deposits, which reserves are known

or approximated and occurrences to which tonnage cannot be imputed. The basement complex of southwestern Nigeria hosts Important deposits of gold, in the Ile-Ilesha schist belt and tin-tallum-niobium in the pegmatites of Ijero and Iregun. Gemstones such as aquamarine, zircon, rutile and emerald are illegally mined at Ofiki and Olode. Occurrences of nickel and chromite are known in Wellesha area. Feldspars and quartz occur widely in Ogbomosho area.

Extensive deposits of talc are found at Apomu and tiesha Feldspars and quartz occur widely in the pegmatites of Olode, Osogbo, Iwo, Iregun and Ijero. There is an important deposit of marble within the migmatite-gneiss complex of Igbeti. Construction aggregates are widely distributed.