The aim of this chapter is to use geochemistry to determine
the economic potential of marble from Ikpeshi area. Nigeria has a variety of
rich solid minerals and rocks such as marble which if fully exploited will
boost the economic potentials of the country. Forty five (45) marble samples
were collected and subjected to petrographic, physical analyses and geochemical
analysis using the inductively coupled plasma –mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
Geochemical data indicated that the marble deposits at Ikpeshi has variable
geochemical characteristics; some have low dolomite CaMg (CO3)2 (1.35-7.44%)
and high calcite CaCO3 (82.78-95.61%) while the Golden Girl quarry has moderate
dolomite (41.38-41.42%) and moderate calcite (61.03-61.58%). Physical tests
indicated high tensile strength (17.342-31.550MPa), compressive strength
(259.515-3892.73MPa) and shear strength (44.70-68.51MPa), respectively.
Petrographic studies revealed that the marble contains calcite, dolomite,
quartz, opaque mineral, actinolite, lead, feldspar and chlorite at various
proportions. Based on these characteristics, the marble from Ikpeshi is
suitable as raw materials for manufacture of lime, drugs, toothpaste, paper and
paint. It is also important in the production of livestock feed, electrical insulators,
flooring tiles and terrazzo chips. The marble is unsuitable as a raw material
for the production of cement unless blended.
Author(s) Details
Romanus Obasi
Department of Geology, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti,
Ekiti State, Nigeria.
Fredrick Isife
Department of Mineral Resources Engineering, The Federal
Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/etert/v5
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