APPLICATION OF NUCLEAR ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES IN MANGANESE ORE EVALUATION
APPLICATION OF NUCLEAR ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES IN MANGANESE ORE EVALUATION
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Date
1995-01
Authors
ONOJAH, AUDU
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Abstract
A paraffin thermal neutron irradiating unit has been
designed to provide reproducible geometry and handle
large samples. The system, cast from commercial paraffin,
has six large irradiation holes that can take up to 63
grams of powdered rock samples (average density=l.8g/cm3)
each and central hole for a 5Ci 241Am-Be source. Using
neutron activation analysis, the unit was characterized
and on the basis of the neutron flux, detection limits
measured, the system was found useful for routine non
destructive determination of Mn, Al, As, V, W, Mo, I, Br,
and Na at concentration above 2% by weight or at their
ore levels.
As a typical application, manganese ores from North
Western Nigeria were analyzed by instrumental neutron
activation analysis and the results compared and
complimented with an established X-ray fluorescence
analysis technique. The two results agreed fairly well.
Some of the manganese ores analyzed have shown
considerable level of Mn concentration, up to 45% by
weight.
For a complete evaluation of these Mn ores, XRD was
used to determine the mineralogy. This analysis has
confirmed most of the Mn minerals identified by other
workers in some of the of the localities and has resulted
in the determination of pyrolusite for the first time in
the Nigerian deposit.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA,
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD
OF THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN PHYSICS
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS,
FACULTY OF SCIENCE,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,
ZARIA, NIGERIA.
JANUARY, 1995.
Keywords
APPLICATION,, NUCLEAR,, ANALYTICAL,, TECHNIQUES,, MANGANESE ORE,, EVALUATION.