Determination of chemical, mineralogical and petrological compositions of Yalmatu-Deba iron ore deposit

Abstract

Determination of chemical, mineralogical and petrological compositions of Yalmatu-Daba iron ore deposit, Gombe State, Nigeria was carried out in the course of this research work. The iron ore deposit is located in Kwadon- Yamaltu village of Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State. The samples were sourced from three different Pits 1, 2 and 3 at 50 m apart and 1 m depth with their respective coordinates respectively. The samples were harmonized crushed, pulverized and characterized using X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (XRF), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Optical microscope techniques respectively. The XRF result of the chemical analysis of the homogenized sample revealed that the ore contained 46.34% Fe₂O₃, 50.7% SiO₂, 0.43% CaO, 0.196% K₂O, 0.546% V₂O₅, 0.029% Cr₂O₃, 1.07% MnO, 0.029% CuO, 0.0453% ZnO, 0.016% Rb₂O, 0.34% ZrO₂, 0.029% SrO, 0.47% Ln₂O₃, 0.11% BaO, 0.47% Eu₂O₃, 0.036% Re₂O₇on the average. XRD result of the mineralogical analysis revealed that the ore contained Quartz, Goethite, Magnetite and Kaolinite as the major mineral phases while Silica as the minor mineral phase in the matrix of the ore. The petrological result revealed that the ore matrix is an assemblage of interlayered of different minerals crystals with different shapes and sizes at different angles of orientation and separated by grain boundaries. The results of chemical and mineralogical compositions of the ore compare favourably with other results of some Nigerian iron ore deposits cited in the literatures. Thus, making the Yalmatu-Deba iron ore deposit another potential source of iron ore that can be beneficiated and utilize in the nation’s iron and steel industries.