Geophysical and Geological Studies of the Spread and Industrial Quality of Okurike Barite Deposit

Abstract

Investors have been avoiding the Okurike Barite due to paucity of information on its economic worth in spite of the high demand for barites by the local industries. This study was embarked upon to determine the spread and industrial quality of the barite deposit in order to bridge the information gap. The Okurike Barite mineralised site was investigated using geophysical Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and geological techniques. The geophysical data were acquired along three profiles while the barite samples were analysed using the laboratory techniques in order to determine their elemental compositions and physical characteristics. Results show that the barites occur with gravels, breccias and weathered basement materials within a very limited region. The resistivity values of the barite mineralised region were observed to vary between 731 and ~1500 Ωm. The barites are characterised by specific gravity of 4.4, density of 3.64 g/cm 3 , porosity of 28%, uniaxial compressive strength of 29.4 kN/mm 2 and water absorption capacity of 1.5%. The elements Ba and Fe dominate the elemental composition with 77.28 and 19.98% respectively. BaO, Fe 2 O 3 and MnO are preferentially enriched with abundance of 71.28, 21.40 and 6.10% respectively. These results show that the industrial quality of the Okurike Barite is high although its spread is limited.

Baryte mineral exploration in parts of the lower Benue Trough, Nigeria

“…According to the works of Oladapo andOladapo (2011), Luaano et al (2012), Oden (2012), Akpan et al (2014) and Obi et al (2014), high resistivity/low conductivity anomalous values are diagnostic of baryte mineralized veins to which barytes can be associated. The resistivity of baryte mineralized veins ranges from 1300-3999 Ωm, which may likely vary within a wide margin dependent on impurities and BaSO 4 content.…”

“…Electrical resistivity methods have variously been used in the exploration of baryte veins by several researchers (Egeh et al, 2004;Karen, 2004;Bhattacharya et al, 2006;Oladapo and Oladapo, 2011;Luano et al, 2012;Akpan et al, 2014;Obi et al, 2014). Results of study show that high resistivity signatures were diagnostic of baryte vein structures to which baryte mineralization could be associated.…”

Utilização de métodos geoelétricos para identificação de corpos de barita na região do Vale do Ribeira

“…Esses autores identificaram também a possibilidade da utilização da eletrorresistividade para a identificação de corpos de baritas, quando esses estão encaixados em rochas menos resistivas. Outros trabalhos mais recentes apresentam resultados promissores, porém apenas sugerem zonas potencialmente mineralizadas, sem a correlação com dados diretos ( (Egeh et al, 2004); (Oladapo & Adeoye-oladapo, 2011); (Akpan et al, 2014)); (Obi et al, 2014); (Ehirim et al, 2016)).…”

“…Figura 2.1: Afloramento do mineral Barita na região de estudo. Fonte: Acervo pessoal Alguns estudos em áreas de potencial para ocorrências de barita ( (Bhattacharya et al, 1974); (Egeh et al, 2004); (Oladapo & Adeoye-oladapo, 2011); (Akpan et al, 2014); (Obi et al, 2014); (Ehirim et al, 2016)) mostram que altos valores de resistividades podem ser diagnósticos desse mineral. De acordo com Ehirim et al (2016) a resistividade da barita depende do conteúdo de BaSO 4 , das impurezas e do ambiente de deposição.…”

“…Oladapo & Adeoye-oladapo (2011) também constataram baixos valores de condutividade elétrica para regiões com barita, as zonas de maior potencial, foram estimadas pelos valores de condutividade menores do que 5mS/m. Akpan et al (2014) estimaram valores de resistividade próximos a 1500 ohm.m na região de mineralização da barita. Obi et al (2014) mapeiam áreas com ocorrências de barita também com base na resistividade, valores de resistividade ao redor de 4000 ohm.m para tal área de estudo foi considerado barita inalterada, enquanto valores ao redor de 600 ohm.m correspondente à barita alterada.…”