Mining is a highly evolving sector in Nigeria currently, and the emphasis on the process of exploration can never be overemphasized.
Mining is the process of extracting minerals and other geological materials that are of economic interest beneath the earth.
currently, there are about 40 solid minerals in Nigeria, scattered in approximately 450 locations in the country.
Solid Minerals in Nigeria
In Nigeria, mining seems to be largely in the hands of artisanal miners, and this has greatly undermined the potential possessed by the sector.
therefore making it difficult for the wealth beneath the earth to be fully explored for the national economic growth.
read more on the benefits and challenges of mining investment in Nigeria.
because of the strong attention required in the area of mineral exploration, Articles like this are relevant to potential investors and those in the business already due to the recent revolution in the mining industry.
Mineral Exploration
Exploration is the process of searching for the concealed ore deposit, usually beneath the earth and rarely found around the surface of the earth.
therefore, the need for a systematic scientific study of the earth to unravel the hidden deposits is paramount. Since these Ore deposits are often underground, it is neither wise nor profitable for any investor to just jump into a pit and start digging with any available tool all in the name of mining.
Secondly, it is suicidal economically to go into mining without proper analysis of all the available geodata so as to ascertain if the suspected deposit is worth investing in.
Stages of Mineral Exploration
Geological Exploration:
This involves but not limited to gathering all available information e.g. airborne geophysical data and published work regarding the area of interest. At this stage ignoring, any literature on the location is risky.
therefore detailed mapping, sample collections, and proper analysis of rock samples should be done with Suitable machines.
All the data gathered at this stage of exploration should be enough to guide the geoscientist and the investor on the possible geophysical method which is the next stage to employ during exploration.
Geophysical Exploration:
Geophysical exploration is an application in mineral exploration aimed at interpreting the physical properties of rocks using physics principles like resistivity, conductivity, polarizability, etc.
in fact, technology has blessed mankind with various methods of geophysical exploration techniques, and these have made exploration generally easier except for the cost implication of most of the machines. These machines can perform various functions like; Induced Polarization(IP), Vertical Electrical Sounding(VES), Resistivity Tomography / Imaging, Gravity Survey, Magnetic Survey, VLF, Well Logging, etc.
Geophysical exploration if professionally handled and suitable technique applied should provide one with sufficient data as to where to drill which happens to be the final stage of exploration.
Core Drilling:
Drilling is the most expensive stage in exploration that is aimed at confirming every data that have been acquired from airborne, geological, and geophysical surveys.
utmost cautions are usually employed in making decisions as to where and how to drill because of the importance of this stage, and it is entirely the prerogative of the geoscientist to decide, where (location) and how (method) to drill. furthermore, Drilling can be done at an angle (diagonally) or vertically depending on the target.
Below is a Few types of drilling in mineral exploration:
- Reverse Circulation (RC).
- Diamond drilling.
- Rotary Drilling.
- Percussion Drilling etc.
to illustrate, a Doctor (surgeon) cannot proceed on any surgical mission without carefully examining his/her patient with series of scanning.
in the same way, no meaningful mining business should be carried out without detailed investigation so as to determine the quantity (tonnage) and quality (Ore grade) of ore deposit or any mineral of interest.
conclusively, Proper exploration procedure if properly applied to conclusive end stands a better chance of saving both the investor and the employer from possible financial loss and unnecessary embarrassment, and when the mineral of interest seems not to be available in commercial quantity, believe me, you have been saved from further investment which may not yield any reasonable returns.
