Occurrence and distribution of barite mineralization in Cross River State, south-eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Cross River State is composed of sedimentary rocks which constitute the Calabar Flank and metamorphic and intrusive rocks which crop out in the Oban massif and Obudu Plateau. This study establishes that barite mineralization occurs in the Cretaceous sedimentary rocks of the Calabar Flank as well as in the Precambrian basement rocks. In the Calabar Flank which is in the lower Benue Trough, the outcrops are widespread but mineralization is generally concealed. Barite occurrence has been studied in twenty two localities and the host rocks include sandstones, shales,
dolerites, granite and gneiss. Shales and sandstones have the greatest occurrence of barite. The mineral occurs as veins trending NE-SW, N-S and NW-SE. They occur in a fracture system cross-cutting the lower Benue Trough axis suggesting a possible genetic relationship with the Azara barite mineralization of Benue Trough which is believed to be of hydrothermal origin.