Gold Discovered In South West (Page 8)

The Federal government yesterday raised hopes of a major break-through in the country's effort developing alternative mineral resource  aside from oil and gas, when it revealed the discovery  of gold to the depth of 3,000 meters with an estimated two million ounces in the Western part of Nigeria.

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke who disclosed this at the presentation of the World Bank-sponsored Nigerian Airborne Geophysical Survey Data phase II in Abuja, said the import of the latest development is that Nigeria may well be on her way to joining  countries like Ghana in supplying gold to the world market.
According to Madueke, a  coring done last year by the small mining companies, to the depth of 3,000 meters, has proved more than 300,000 ounces, with 2 million ounces estimated,

“ The importance of this fantastic piece of news is probably best appreciated within the context of the knowledge  that Nigeria has gold schist belts in the western half of the country that are very similar to those of Ghana”, she said.
She said  surveys have shown that Nigeria is richly endowed with a range of solid minerals which if properly managed and exploited may in the near future become the engine of our national economic growth.

She said the Ministry has decided to place special focus on seven of the minerals which includes,  bitumen/tar sand with estimated reserves of 27bn barrels of oil equivalent, coal (2.7 billion tonnes), iron ores (3 billion tonnes), limestone (2.23 billion tonnes), barytes (14 million tonnes) and lead/zinc sulphides one million tonnes) .

Madueke described the completion of the geophysical survey phase II as something that would facilitate  mineral exploration, ground water prospecting, pollution and geo-hazard monitoring.

“The survey also measures the Digital Elevation Model (DEM)  and Shuttle Radar  Topographic Mission (SRIM) which provide detailed information on terrains, vegetations, landforms, settlements, roads and drainages.  The data is therefore extremely useful in security   surveilance and development planning”, she said.

The Minister further said plans are underway geological, mineral and geo-chemical mapping of the country with a view to providing all the necessary data  needed  to adequately tap the mineral resources to our economic advantage.

She said the Ministry is putting in place a genstone certification process, adding that it has reached aggreement with internationally renowned Nigeria-born Jeweler to design a Jewelry line, using exclusively Nigerian gemstones.

This line of Jewelry will be launched for the international and domestic market in March this year, she said.

Earlier, the geologist involved in the preparation the survey data, Prof. Collins Reeves said a mechanism will be put in  place to enable interested scientists to study, interpret and analyse the geophysical survey data and that the outcome of their study will be made public next year.

He said the experience of Brazil could be helpful in Nigeria quest  for effective utilization of solid mineral resources.

Source: This Day