THE GEOLOGY AND GEOCHEMISTRY OF IRONSTONE AND KAOLIN DEPOSITS IN SHEET 85 (UDUBO), BAUCHI STATE

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Date
2000-06
Authors
ADEOYE, ALICE FUNMILAYO
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Abstract
Taranji in Udubo area of Bauchi State is located in the Chad Basin of northeastern Nigeria. The area is covered by clay, ironstone, sandstone and loose sand. The aim of the project is to determine the extent, quality and possible uses of the clay and ironstone in the area. This involved geological mapping of the area, the geochemical studies of the clay and the ironstone and the geotechnical studies of the clay. Vertical profiles of twenty (20) hand-dug pits of average of one thousand (1,000 m) were examined and sampled along the profiles. In addition, two boreholes drilled to a depth of 48.8 m and 38.8 m respectively, located in Walwal area, in Gamawa Local Government Area of Bauchi State by the Geological Survey of Nigeria, were sampled and studied. Physical observations of rocks indicate that haematite is the main mineral of the ironstone while quartz occurs as impurity. Kaolinite is the main minera of the clays. The clay occurs as massive deposit in the area of study. Data from boreholes and cores indicate that the ironstone occurs in four layers with a total thickness of 6.72 m. Medium-grained older granite was struck at a depth of 48.8m while drilling, signifying that the thick pile of sediments in he Chad Basin is underlain by rocks of the Basement Complex in this area. The wet chemical data indicate a direct relationship between the compositional variation of the oxides, the purity of the ironstone occurrence and kaolin deposit. X-ray diffractometry result corroborates result of geological mapping that haematite is the major mineral while quartz occurs as impurity. Geotechnical analysis indicates that the clay has tough tensile trength with liquid limit of 29.25% and plastic limit of 13.04% and average linear shrinkage of 5.75%. Structures observed were beddings, very few cross-laminations in sandstones, folds oolitic and pisolitic textures in the ironstone.. Drilling was discontinued due to lack of funds, therefore, the exact thickness of the overburden and the ironstone could not be ascertained at various locations to determine exact or accurate reserves of the deposit.
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A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE, GEOLOGY (MINERAL EXPLORATION) JUNE, 2000.
Keywords
GEOLOGY,, GEOCHEMISTRY,, IRONSTONE,, KAOLIN,, DEPOSITS,, SHEET,, (UDUBO),, BAUCHI STATE
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