Geology and Geochemistry of Ilmenite Deposits of Malumfashi Schist Belt, Northwestern Nigeria

Abstract

The geology, geochemistry and the economic potential of Ilmenite occurrence insheet 79 Malumfashi NW is presented in this study. The field and petrographic studies revealed that, the area consists of largely muscovite and carbonaceous schist together with Granite as major rocks. Tourmalinites and quartzite as minor rocks. Numerous quartz veins of various sizes trending NS parallel to the foliation of the schist are present throughout representing a silicification episode. The outcrop contains quartz veins which may be the possible host of the mineralization (Ilmenite).The mineralization occurs in nodules within the quartz veins and it also comes in nuggets and in some places as a smaller fragments scattered within the quartz veins. They show lack of cleavage and have a buggy texture. Based on the major oxide geochemistry, the schist in the study area have high silica (SiO 2 ) composition of (95.49 – 97.21 wt.%). Titanium oxide (TiO 2 ) is (73.73 – 82.71 wt. %) and Iron oxide (Fe 2 O 3 ) composition of (14.51 – 75.23 wt. %). The fact that Fe 2 O 3 and TiO 2 forms Ilmenite rather than any other mineral indicates that the hydrothermal solution is oxidizing, and related to dehydration related to prograde metamorphism of shale. Ilmenite is a primary source of titanium metal, which when combined with other metals produces durable high strength light weight alloys. These alloys are used to manufacture a wide variety of high performance tools. A form of titanium dioxide is used to produce white high refractive pigments.