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