Department of Mining Engineering
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- ItemEFFECTS OF SAWDUST PARTICLES REINFORCEMENT ON THE MICROSTRUCTURAL, PHYSICAL, AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF CEMENT-BASED COMPOSITES: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY(2024) Kabiru MUSTAPHA; Sikiru O. ABDULRAMAN; Moyosoreoluwa O. KING-OKUNEYEThis study investigates the effect of varying sawdust reinforcement volumes on the physical and mechanical properties of Portland cement composites. Sawdust from a local sawmill in Moro, Kwara, Nigeria, was incorporated into cement composites at volume fractions from 40% to 90%. Composites samples were produced for physical, mechanical and microstructural characterizations. Results showed that water absorption increased with higher sawdust content, peaking at 41.78% for 90% sawdust composite, and bulk density also rose, reaching a maximum of 193.33 g/m. at 90%. Apparent void volume generally decreased with increasing sawdust content. Optimal mechanical properties were observed at 60% sawdust content, with the highest compressive strength of 20.32 MPa, flexural strength of 8.36 MPa, and fracture toughness of 0.85 MPa.m1/2, while hardness decreased with increasing sawdust, peaking at 42.99 HRBS at 40% sawdust. Microstructural analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a uniform distribution of sawdust particles within the cement matrix, with improved interfacial bonding observed at the optimal 60% sawdust content, contributing to the enhanced mechanical properties of the composite. In conclusion, 60 vol.% sawdust reinforcement is optimal for enhancing the mechanical performance of Portland cement composites, offering a balance between strength and sustainability, suggesting its potential as a cost-effective, eco-friendly reinforcement for cement-based materials in sustainable construction practices.
- ItemFostering the Sustainability of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) of Barite in Nasarawa State, Nigeria(2021) Itohan Otoijamun; Moses Kigozi; Sikiru Ottan Abdulraman; Adelana Rasak Adetunji; Azikiwe Peter OnwualuThe exploration and mining of Nigerian barite are primarily by artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM) whose operations are characterized by poor productivity. As a result, the quantity and quality of barites produced do not satisfy the nation’s oil sector demands and other industries that require the mineral. This situation leads to massive importation of the mineral with negative impact on the country’s drive toward increasing the contribution of solid minerals to the gross domestic product (GDP). This study reviews the existing policies and government interventions on ASM of Nigerian barite; evaluates the operations of ASM through a survey of mines in Nasarawa state, Nigeria; identifies factors that affect sustainability of the sector and proffers solutions to foster sustainability of ASM of barite in the region. The study adopted the 4Is optimization technique (Information gathering, Interpretation, Implication, and Implementation) through personal interactions with the stakeholders at the barite mining sites, and government agencies, regarding policies and interventions specific to ASM of barite. Challenges identified include: weak implementation and enforcement of mining laws; inadequate support from government and development partners; poor access to mining equipment and technology; poor infrastructure (access road, water, electricity); poor pricing of products (marketing challenges); poor remuneration of mine workers; poor mining skills; inadequate formal education; limited awareness on environmental health and safety hazards; fragility and conflict; insufficient information and data on mines and miners; security issues; lack of access to finance; lack of formalization of operations and poor legal framework for operations. The strategies suggested for fostering the sustainability of ASM of barites include: enhanced policy and legislation formulation and implementation, strengthening of institutions, formalization of ASM operations, training of miners, awareness campaign, improvement in environmental and safety of operations, empowerment and support by government and development partners for individual miners and processors and organized groups within the sector (such as Miners Association of Nigeria, Association of Miner and Processors of Barite, AMAPOB). Implementation of these strategies will lead to sustainable operations of the sector and hence improved rural livelihoods, stimulation of entrepreneurship in an environmentally responsible manner, and improvement in the contribution of the mineral sector to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP), and hence national development.
- ItemStructural and Some Mechanical Properties of Parquetina Nigrescens Pod Nanoparticles Reinforced Mixed Matrix Membrane for Dental Applications(2024) Sefiu Adekunle Bello, Bolwatife Olukunle; Raphael Gboyega Adeyemo, Funsho Olaitan Kolawole,; Mohammed Kayode Adebayo, Abdul Ganiyu Funsho Alabi, Sikiru Ottan AbdulramanPolylactic acid (PLA) is a biocompatible, and biodegradable thermoplastic. It is renewable being produced by bacterial fermentation of potatoes, sugarcane, or corn starch. PLA has been attempted in many applications to replace petroleum-based polymers because some of its mechanical properties are excellent and it can be processed easily but low toughness and thermal stability are setbacks from one application to another. To improve on mechanical properties of the PLA to be suitable as biomaterials for dental and other applications, this study focuses on synthesis of Parquetina nigrescens pod nanoparticles (PNPNP) as reinforcements in the PLA to engineer new nanocomposites for biomedical applications. Chemical, structural and some mechanical properties were investigated. TEM result indicates an average size of 14.14 nm of the PNPNP used for reinforcing the PLA. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrograph establishes a reduction in the amount of light transmitted by the PLA. This is due to PNPNP additions with changes in the wavenumbers of the observed peaks affirming formation of new compounds due to interactions of the PLA molecules and PNPNP. X-ray diffractograms reaffirms new compound formations. Moreover, there are enhancements in mechanical properties up to 3% by weight of PNPNP addition to the PLA with about 92% improvement in the impact toughness.
- ItemEquipment Maintenance Management Audit of Some Granite Aggregate Quarries in Part of South - West Nigeria.(2016) Abdulraman S. O.; Olaleye B.M; Saliu M.AThis paper analyses an existing maintenance management system in some selected typical granite aggregate quarries (represented as K1, K2 and K3) in part of South-west Nigeria using modified questionnaire and interview. The quarries' current maintenance management effectiveness was evaluated with respect to five basic elements of maintenance management. The quarries were rated in accordance with global best practices with credits/ points ranging from 1 to 3. Investigation shows that K1 and K2 had average overall ratings of 1.45 and 1.39 respectively. These scores fell below average performance, which informed their inability to operate at profit and call for urgent improvement decisions in all elements of maintenance management benchmarked. K3 scored 2.48, which indicates that the quarry adopts an effective maintenance management system, but will also need to improve on its preventive maintenance and maintenance scheduling. This paper is therefore an assessment initiative for maintenance and productivity continuous improvement and can be integrated as apart of a decision support system for maintenance management in the quarry industry.
- ItemProvenance and Weathering History of Clays from Share-Tshonga Area, Northern Bida Basin, Nigeria(2021) Awe, A.; Ojo, O.J.; Adepoju, S.A. ,; Omoyegun, T.D.; Adeoye, M.O.; Abdulraman, S.O.The claystone member of Enagi Formation exposed around Share-Tshonga, northern Bida Basin, central Nigeria was studied to unravel the provenance, paleoweathering and paleoenvironmental conditions using XRF and ICP-MS. Major oxides show enrichment in SiO (60.27-79.87%), relative to Al O (3.10-27.38 %), Fe O (0.98-22.85%), CaO 2 2 3 2 3 (0.01-0.03%), Na O (0.01-0.03%), K O (0.05-0.84%), MnO (0.01-0.15%), TiO (0.21-2.09%) and P O (0.05-0.84%). 2 2 2 2 5 The high SiO /Al O (2.20 to 22.76) with mean of 8.73 suggests higher detritus input in continental environment. 2 2 3 Certain proxy trace elements such as Cr (64.80ppm), Th (17.42ppm) and Zr (528.80ppm) are enriched in the claystone compared to published PAAS (38.20ppm, 14.62ppm and 210.00ppm respectively) and UCC (31.00ppm, 10.70ppm and 190.00ppm respectively) data but depleted in Cu (7.03ppm), Zn (8.00ppm), Rb (12.05ppm), Sr (38.63ppm) and Ba (132.40ppm) compared to published PAAS (50.00, 85.00, 160.00, 200.00 and 650.00 respectively)ppm and UCC (25.00, 71.00, 112.00, 350.00 and 550.00 respectively)ppm. The LREE (250.15ppm) enrichment relative to HREE (23.49ppm) with (La/Yb) of 9.67 to 11.98, negative Europium (Eu/Eu*) anomaly N (0.54-0.63) and (Ce/Ce*) anomaly (0.83-1.49) suggest felsic provenance. The mean values of Al O /TiO (13.17), 2 3 2 K O/Al O (0.02), LREE/HREE (10.65) coupled with discriminant plots of logK O/Na O versus SiO , TiO versus Zr, 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 La/Th versus Hf support dominant felsic source within passive margin tectonic settings. The ranges and mean ratio values of Cu/Zn, V/Cr and U/Th indicate oxic, semi-humid to humid climatic settings. The values of chemical indices; chemical index of alteration (CIA=96.44-99.13), chemical index of weathering (CIW=98.73-99.89), plagioclase index of alteration (PIA=98.71-99.89) compared with the values of PAAS and UCC supported by various plotting including CIW versus CIA and ICV versus CIA show that the claystone clearly depicted extremely high weathering. Relatively higher mean of index of compositional variability (ICV) values (2.03) compared to PAAS (0.74) and UCC (1.18) also indicate compositional maturity.