Occurrence and lithogeochemical composition of iron ore in Ngororero District, Rwanda

Abstract

This research aimed to investigate the occurrence and lithogeochemical composition of iron ore in the Ngororero District of Rwanda, with a specific focus on assessing its suitability as a raw material for iron and steel production. The objective was to determine the elemental composition, mineral species, and morphology of the iron ore samples collected from the study area. Eleven samples were collected and analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), X-ray diffractogram (XRD), and Optical Light Microscopy. The study shows that Ngororero iron ore is a medium-grade hematite (Fe2O3) ore with iron content ranging from 58.3 % to 65.8 %. Importantly, it contains minimal impurities (less than 3.7 % SiO2 and less than 0.4 % Al2O3) and low levels of detrimental elements (P less than 0.02 % and S less than 0.19 %). While the sulfur (S) content slightly exceeds standard limits, the phosphorus (P) content falls within the acceptable range for commercial iron ores. These findings, marking the first report of iron ore occurrence in the Ngororero District, have significant implications for the potential exploitation of Ngororero iron ore as a valuable raw material in iron and steel production and its suitability for industrial applications. To confirm its economic potential and assess its viability for iron and steel production in Rwanda, the study recommends that additional thorough exploration activities be conducted in this area using both geology and geophysical investigation as well as exploration drilling for iron ore reserve estimation in the study area.